Bus changes from the end of May resulted in National Express Service 5 terminating at the Technology Park (Luna Place/Explorer Road) after visiting Ninewells Hospital, not serving Apollo Way or the Clovis Duveau Drive area at all.
I am very grateful to the group of local residents and workers at the Technology Park who have helped me gather over 230 signatures from local people, who have made it clear their opposition to the bus route change.
This detrimental bus route change means that the far west end of Perth Road around Clovis Duveau Drive is no longer be served by this vital bus service – it previously covered the area on its return route eastwards from Ninewells and the Technology Park back into the City Centre – and I concerned about this not only for the residents involved but also visitors to the Riverview Nursing Home who relied on the service.
Back in May, I wrote to the Managing Director of National Express Dundee who replied :
“… We have taken a commercial decision to make Service 5 a more attractive proposition for those customers wishing to travel to and from Ninewells Hospital. Other bus services provide to and from the western extremity of Perth Road and the other roads stated. Our objective is to make Ninewells Hospital the primary focus of Service 5 so that it calls there before serving the Technology Park.”
I have, in response, pointed out to National Express Dundee that Service 5 does already serve Ninewells Hospital – which is also extremely well served by many other bus services. Also, in numerous proposed changes by Stagecoach Strathtay, changes on the 73 group of services mean Saturday services also reduced from 6 buses an hour to 4 in the West End.
The changes are highly detrimental to the residents in the area and I hope that the strength of feeling expressed by over 230 people will result in a rethink by National Express Dundee. These people it must be remembered are all National Express Dundee customers, and I hope that the bus company will listen to its customers.
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| Delivering the petition to National Express Dundee Headquarters yesterday |