Broughty Ferry councillors Rod Wallace and Derek Scott have called on National Express Dundee to improve bus services to the burgh and other parts of the city.
They explained to company acting director Simon Mathieson that changes brought in over two months ago have not been well received by the travelling public in the east end.
Mr Wallace said the changes have disadvantaged many people from even being able to get a bus, and have stopped elderly and disabled people from getting safe access to central Broughty Ferry and elsewhere.
They have drawn up a plan which they think would go some way towards solving the problems and encourage people to make fuller use of public transport.
Mr Scott said that with the most recent hike in petrol prices, bus companies should be doing everything possible to increase passenger numbers.
The councillors believed their plan represented the views of many of their constituents who signed petitions and had written to them with their concerns.
They asked Mr Mathieson to look very closely at the proposals and to report back on the viability of the plans.
Mr Wallace added, “If Mr Mathieson agrees to the proposals, it will result in National Express bus services being restored to the west leg of Balgillo Road, Panmurefield Village, Dundee Road and central Broughty Ferry (south of the railway line).
In general the Broughty councillors have proposed:
Changing the No 26 to run clockwise from Sainsbury’s round the Balgillo/Barnhill loop and down to Queen Street without going through central Broughty Ferry.
Splitting the No 5 to a 5 and 5X.
Keeping the No 5 running clockwise round the Balgillo/Barnhill loop and then via Queen Street, Claypotts Road and Strathern Road into Dundee.
Making the 5X into Dundee run anti-clockwise round the Balgillo/Barnhill loop and then down Forthill Road. It would turn right into Queen Street, left at Claypotts Road and then into central Broughty Ferry which it would loop round and leave by Claypotts Road before heading into Dundee.
Making the 5X to Balgillo/Barnhill from Dundee turn right from Strathern Road into Fairfield Road, left into Dundee Road and then into West Queen Street, right into Claypotts Road and into central Broughty Ferry which it would loop round and leave by Claypotts Road before turning right into Queen Street, up Fort Street and then go anti-clockwise round Balgillo and Barnhill.
Reintroduce the No 14 via Sainsbury’s, Balgillo Road, Balgillo Road East, and A92 Arbroath Road to the Belltree at Panmurefield Village, returning by the same route.
The changes in November were in part due to the difficulty in buses keeping to timetable through central Broughty Ferry because of the narrowness of its streets and the need to negotiate the Gray Street level crossing which is regularly closed owing to frequent trains.
This impacted on central Broughty Ferry, however, with traders complaining about a downturn in business because of the reduction in bus-borne shoppers.
Mr Mathieson said yesterday, “I’m out on the bus network often and meeting as many councillors as possible to understand people’s views on transport.
“I was pleased to meet Councillors Wallace and Scott last week to discuss Broughty Ferry. They presented me with their vision for transport in the area and I’m currently reviewing the detail with my team.
“Part of the proposal included a method for operating services without using the level crossings in
Broughty Ferry, so we will closely study whether this is commercially viable.
“We changed services last year to avoid using the level crossing, which is highly unpredictable and frequently leaves buses at a standstill for up to 10 minutes.
“This results in significant delays for passengers along the length of the route and makes it impossible for drivers to stick to the timetable.”