Efforts to reintroduce a regular bus service linking Barnhill and Balgillo with the centre of Broughty Ferry in time for Christmas have failed.
The news will come as a blow to many elderly residents who rely on public transport to access local shops, doctors and other services.
A problem has arisen since changes to the Travel Dundee timetable led to the number 5 service being rerouted to run along Queen Street, rather than crossing the railway line into central Broughty Ferry.
The only buses that now enter the centre are operated by Stagecoach Strathtay the 69, which receives cash from the council, and the 88, which is subsidised by Sainsbury’s, but campaigners say their routes don’t cover the areas of greatest need.
The fight to restore buses to the centre won the support of Broughty Ferry Community Council and Broughty Ferry Traders’ Association and was taken up by councillors Derek Scott and Rod Wallace.
Council officials agreed to look at the possibility of extending the routes of the 69 and 88 services, but that has not proved possible in the short term, Councillor Scott said last night.
Expressing his disappointment, he said he was still hopeful of a more positive outcome in the New Year.
Dundee City Council is to carry out a review of the entire bus network in the city and making the necessary alterations in isolation at this stage would simply be too costly, he said.
“I am hoping that once they have carried out the review of bus services across Dundee it will be possible to do something then.”