Today started with a site visit to look at various manhole covers on Perth Road west of the Invercarse Hotel - these have sunk (as the photo - right - shows) and the site visit with a local resident and City Council officials has resulted in various repairs being raised with Scottish Water and British Telecom. Thereafter, I attended the first meeting of the Whitfield Regeneration Board (in my capacity as Planning & Transport Convener).
Some hours of "day job" work later, I attended the handing over to Stagecoach Strathtay of a petition of some 526 signatures to help save our 72 bus service. See photo below.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to the local people who organised the petition and collected over 500 signatures in just a few days –it gives a clear impression of the strength of feeling in the West End community that the 72 bus service is a vital lifeline for many – especially elderly – people, and we call on Stagecoach Strathtay to save this vital bus service.
The whole community in the West End has pulled together to help the campaign including community groups like West End Community Council and the Friends of Magdalen Green, and I am heartened that so many local people are making their voices heard.
Stagecoach Strathtay has agreed to meet with us later this month. The bus company has made clear that it is now prepared to run a more limited service but we don’t think it is acceptable and it wouldn’t cover areas like Newhall Gardens, Royal Victoria Hospital, Ninewells Hospital and Tesco Riverside, and serving these is vital for local people.
I think it must be remembered that the 72 bus service currently gives a service to many who otherwise would not have a local bus service and it is the most elderly and vulnerable who would be worst affected if the bus was withdrawn.
I am hoping that, between now and our meeting with the bus company later in July, Stagecoach Strathtay will decide to agree to keep the 72 on the road. There is no doubt that there is an extremely strong case to keep this service, which is so beneficial to our community.
Stagecoach Strathtay has agreed to meet with us later this month. The bus company has made clear that it is now prepared to run a more limited service but we don’t think it is acceptable and it wouldn’t cover areas like Newhall Gardens, Royal Victoria Hospital, Ninewells Hospital and Tesco Riverside, and serving these is vital for local people.
I think it must be remembered that the 72 bus service currently gives a service to many who otherwise would not have a local bus service and it is the most elderly and vulnerable who would be worst affected if the bus was withdrawn.
I am hoping that, between now and our meeting with the bus company later in July, Stagecoach Strathtay will decide to agree to keep the 72 on the road. There is no doubt that there is an extremely strong case to keep this service, which is so beneficial to our community.
Later this afternoon, I attended the Beacon Management quarterly meeting with Tayside Police, which covers policing issues in the area, and a useful meeting with one of the local housing associations later on which resulted in one constituent's repairs concerns being addressed.