We, the Community Council, feel that this whole change management process has been extremely poorly executed. Between, no involvement around the consultation process with ourselves. The public communication itself of the changes has been unclear with no maps or route plans supplied by First Bus Aberdeen. Not to mention the whole narrative being lost in the communication around changes that are happening with Central, Union Street between Bridge Street and Market Street. After that section being reopened for busses and taxis since its closure to all traffic from May 29, 2020, to June 23, 2022. As part of the Nestrans funding, "Spaces for People" measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The City Council has still to deploy bus stops for some of the new routes and we are only a few days away from these services going live.
Summary
Change is scary, but overall, these improvements in public transport in our community look to be a giant step in the right direction. We believe thank you, is well deserved to all those concerned Councillors, Aberdeen City Council, First Bus Aberdeen, and Stagecoach East Scotland. There were real concerns within the community around the service ending spread by rumour from drivers, residents and on social media. Now with access for busses to Central, Union Street this will also speed up journey times and links throughout the city.
Positive:
Two services the 11A and 15 during the day and two in the evening 15A and 15B.
Craigiebuckler service now going via Queens Road, Berryden, and ending in Northfield.
Countesswells are now being serviced directly via Countesswells Road service 15.
Airyhall, Craigton Road and the Dandara development are all covered by the service 15.
New Aldi store on Countesswells Road will be integrated into the service 15 route.
Access to the facilities at Countesswells (businesses, school, and the lovely forest walks)
Negative:
Direct beach service lost, switch to 13 service on Union Street in-front of Town House.
See the following articles for a breakdown of the new services:
Starting at Craigiebuckler Terminus on Craigiebuckler Avenue and follow the previous route right onto Springfield Road, left at the traffic lights and down Countesswells Road along Seafield Road until it reaches the Anderson Drive roundabout, at this point the route diverges from the previous service where it will take the first exit and travel up Anderson Drive until Queens Road roundabout where it will take the third exit and travel along Queens Road. The 11A Service will now replicate the 11 Service, which terminates at Northfield Terminus on Howes Road.
The service 11A will operate every 30 minutes from Craigiebuckler to Northfield, replacing the service 15 in Craigiebuckler and the service route is as follows: Towards Craigiebuckler: Normal route to Queens Rd then; Anderson Drive, Seafield Road, Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Craigiebukler Ave to Craigiebuckler (Craigiebukler Ave). The service will operate the reverse route towards Northfield. In Northfield the route will be amended to serve Byron Avenue and Brebner Terrace in both directions and no longer service Springhill Road on the outbound journey to Northfield Terminus.
The service 15 will no longer serve Craigiebuckler or the Beach, with the two areas being served by the services 11A and 13 respectively as aforementioned. The service will operate between Countesswells Development and Balnagask via Airyhall, on a 30-minute frequency, also replacing the service 20 in Balnagask. The service from Seafield Road will operate the following in both directions: Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Craigton Road, Airyhall Avenue, Countesswells Road, Countesswells Avenue, Coutesswells Road, then will operate a 1-way route around Countesswells Development. As a result of this route change the entire length of Countesswells Avenue will be served providing a bus service to new housing in the area.
Starting at the Bus Station, Union Square turning left route will be that it will now travel along Central Union Street and has a new stop outside the St Nicholas Kirk before turning down Market Street and ending at Union Square, Bus Station. On route from the Union Street Bus Station, it will turn left onto Guild Street, then right onto Bridge Street, then continue out to Countesswells.
An evening service will operate as a service 15B between Guild Street and Countesswells Development only and will follow the same route until Seafield Shops (Countesswells Rd) but will then operate directly to Countesswells via Countesswells Road and will not serve the Airyhall area, but services will still be available on the Council supported 15A (Monday to Friday).
We, the Community Council, feel that this whole change management process has been extremely poorly executed. Between, no involvement around the consultation process with ourselves. The public communication itself of the changes has been unclear with no maps or route plans supplied by First Bus Aberdeen. Not to mention the whole narrative being lost in the communication around changes that are happening with Central, Union Street between Bridge Street and Market Street. After that section being reopened for busses and taxis since its closure to all traffic from May 29, 2020, to June 23, 2022. As part of the Nestrans funding, "Spaces for People" measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The City Council has still to deploy bus stops for some of the new routes and we are only a few days away from these services going live.
Summary
Change is scary, but overall, these improvements in public transport in our community look to be a giant step in the right direction. We believe thank you, is well deserved to all those concerned Councillors, Aberdeen City Council, First Bus Aberdeen, and Stagecoach East Scotland. There were real concerns within the community around the service ending spread by rumour from drivers, residents and on social media. Now with access for busses to Central, Union Street this will also speed up journey times and links throughout the city.
Positive:
Two services the 11A and 15 during the day and two in the evening 15A and 15B.
Craigiebuckler service now going via Queens Road, Berryden, and ending in Northfield.
Countesswells are now being serviced directly via Countesswells Road service 15.
Airyhall, Craigton Road and the Dandara development are all covered by the service 15.
New Aldi store on Countesswells Road will be integrated into the service 15 route.
Access to the facilities at Countesswells (businesses, school, and the lovely forest walks)
Negative:
Direct beach service lost, switch to 13 service on Union Street in-front of Town House.
See the following articles for a breakdown of the new services:
Starting at Craigiebuckler Terminus on Craigiebuckler Avenue and follow the previous route right onto Springfield Road, left at the traffic lights and down Countesswells Road along Seafield Road until it reaches the Anderson Drive roundabout, at this point the route diverges from the previous service where it will take the first exit and travel up Anderson Drive until Queens Road roundabout where it will take the third exit and travel along Queens Road. The 11A Service will now replicate the 11 Service, which terminates at Northfield Terminus on Howes Road.
The service 11A will operate every 30 minutes from Craigiebuckler to Northfield, replacing the service 15 in Craigiebuckler and the service route is as follows: Towards Craigiebuckler: Normal route to Queens Rd then; Anderson Drive, Seafield Road, Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Craigiebukler Ave to Craigiebuckler (Craigiebukler Ave). The service will operate the reverse route towards Northfield. In Northfield the route will be amended to serve Byron Avenue and Brebner Terrace in both directions and no longer service Springhill Road on the outbound journey to Northfield Terminus.
The service 15 will no longer serve Craigiebuckler or the Beach, with the two areas being served by the services 11A and 13 respectively as aforementioned. The service will operate between Countesswells Development and Balnagask via Airyhall, on a 30-minute frequency, also replacing the service 20 in Balnagask. The service from Seafield Road will operate the following in both directions: Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Craigton Road, Airyhall Avenue, Countesswells Road, Countesswells Avenue, Coutesswells Road, then will operate a 1-way route around Countesswells Development. As a result of this route change the entire length of Countesswells Avenue will be served providing a bus service to new housing in the area.
Starting at the Bus Station, Union Square turning left route will be that it will now travel along Central Union Street and has a new stop outside the St Nicholas Kirk before turning down Market Street and ending at Union Square, Bus Station. On route from the Union Street Bus Station, it will turn left onto Guild Street, then right onto Bridge Street, then continue out to Countesswells.
An evening service will operate as a service 15B between Guild Street and Countesswells Development only and will follow the same route until Seafield Shops (Countesswells Rd) but will then operate directly to Countesswells via Countesswells Road and will not serve the Airyhall area, but services will still be available on the Council supported 15A (Monday to Friday).
