Dundee City Council: 'Lifeline' Dundee bus routes to be axed in March
"Lifeline" bus routes to be axed
Last updated 30th Jan 2024
Multiple Dundee bus routes are set to be axed despite calls from councillors to save services that are a “lifeline” for elderly residents.
Dundee City Council voted in February last year to end subsidies paid to private firms to operate “non-commercially viable” routes to help plug a multimillion funding gap.
The funding, a little over £122,000 annually, will be cut from April and impacts the 206, 204, 202, 236, and 51 routes.
These travel through Broughty Ferry, the West End, Lochee, Kirkton, Lawside, the Glens, Mill O’ Mains, and Mid Craigie.
The local authority has now confirmed bus operators will be axing the 204, 206 and 236 services from March 31.
The 202 and 51 routes, however, will continue to run.
Bus routes are a “lifeline” for the elderly
The Liberal Democrat group on Dundee City Council had called for the routes to be saved, highlighting concerns about the negative impact discontinuing them could have on elderly residents.
Group leader Fraser Macpherson said: “Bus users are mainly elderly and the 204 is a lifeline as parts of the route are very hilly.
“If the 204 goes, walking to the nearest alternative service some distance away is simply not possible for older folk, particularly for those with mobility difficulties.”
West End councillor Daniel Coleman added: “If these buses get axed, there will be a real gap in provision and it is older people who will be most impacted.
“Many elderly residents don’t drive and cannot afford taxis, particularly during this cost of living crisis.”
£85,000 on hybrid equipment
The group also called the local authority’s spending into question – condemning the purchase of hybrid equipment to run council meetings in person and online.
The purchase cost the council £85,000.
Broughty Ferry councillor Craig Duncan said: “This was, in the view of the Liberal Democrat Group, not a priority while vital services are under pressure.
“I think if you asked the Dundee public if £85 000 should be spent on council committee hybrid equipment or on vital bus services that are used mainly by older residents, I think we all know what they would say.
“It shows how out of touch the SNP administration has become.”
‘Virtue signalling’ claims
But SNP councillor Steve Rome hit back at the Lib Dem group, claiming they offered “no solutions” to the problem.
“It’s galling that the Liberal Democrats continue to peddle a narrative that they’d save the world, without actually detailing, to anyone, how they’d fund it,” he said.
“In contrast, we have been working to ensure the delivery of vital public services whilst balancing the budget.
I’m pleased to say that the 51 and 202 will continue, without public subsidy, with funding bids currently being assessed for others, such as the out and about service.”
“In addition, the UK Government committed to significant spending on public transport, following the withdrawal of their disastrous HS2 programme.
“I’ve personally written to secure funds for Dundee. Other than writing a press release, I’d question what the liberal democrats have done to support those efforts.”