Aberdeen City Council to fund bus services

Aberdeen City Council has agreed to fund supported bus services to fill gaps in transport provision in three areas across the region.

The Finance, Policy and Resources Committee has asked officers to begin the procurement process and initiate the finances needs for the services in Kingswells, Airhall and Craigiebuckler and Dubford and Denmore.

The finance agreement follows a report which detailed gaps in existing bus services. Kingswells village, where commercial bus services ceased to operate in April 2017, is already served by an interim service implemented by Aberdeen City Council, with the council now recommending a permanent solution.

A supported Sunday service is part of the recommendations being taken forward for Dubford and Denmore, which has been without a Sunday commercial bus service since September 2012.

Douglas Lumsden, convener of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee, said: “A decision has been made based on the assessments carried out and our own criteria. Transport links are vital to the daily lives of those in the communities we serve and we have agreed to fill the gaps in commercial provision where a clear need exists. The issue of bus services will continue to be examined and there is work being done both in relation to national legislation and local provision.”