'Distressed' locals left without a bus in Footdee

It's due to re-routing by operator First Bus

The number 13 service now turns at the Beach Boulevard Retail Park
Author: Finlay JackPublished 5th Jul 2022

A petition has been sent to local councilors and First Bus after the operator decided to re-route the only service into Footdee.

It's left locals "confused and distressed" at the lack of public transport from their homes, with the nearest bus stop now a 20 minute walk away at the Beach Boulevard Retail Park.

Residents were formerly able to use the number 15 service through the village, though that now only goes as far as Balnagask.

The number 13 service, Scatterburn to Golf Links, goes via the retail park.

However, what used to be a five minute stroll to the bus stop has turned into a 20 minute trek.

'We've got the think of the residents'

Mary Falconer lives in Footdee, she's been drumming up support to pressure First Bus into reversing their decision.

"They'll (First Bus) hope that we're just going to go away but we can't.

"We've got to think of the residents of this village".

Fellow resident Sheila Sansbury has also rallied the village into signing the petition, she says First Bus should have made an effort to talk to locals before pulling the service.

"It's a real pity that they didn't come and talk to us because there's potentially adjustments that they could have made to their timetable.

"They could have not provided buses every half an hour, but every hour. There are solutions."

Mary continued, saying "How are we now going to get into town? How the elderly going to get into town? How the elderly going to get access to other buses to go to medical appointments?"

"It is very confusing as to why they would do it and it's very distressing."

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