FORMARTINE AREA BUS FORUM MINUTES OF MEETING ON MONDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEATRE, ELLON COMMUNITY CAMPUS, ELLON In Attendance Councillor R. J. Merson (Aberdeenshire Council) (Chair) Councillor P. Johnston (Aberdeenshire Council) Kaye Cowie (Meldrum and Bourtie Community Council) Stanley Glennie (Meldrum and Bourtie Community Council) Kevin Glennie (Meldrum and Bourtie Community Council) Debra Campbell (CPO, Aberdeenshire Council) Hilda Drummond (Bus User, Potterton) Sheila Morrison (Bus User, New Byth) Ethel McCurrach (Bus User, Turriff) Kathryn Morrison (Bus User, Ellon) Krista Wright (Bus User, Ellon) Lorna Owen (Bus User, Ellon) Sheila Noble (Bus User, Ellon) Sheila McKay (Bus User, Ellon) Jacquie Lafferty (Bus User, Ellon) Kenneth Gow (Bus User, Ellon) Chris Ramsey (Bus User, Collieston) Joe Cowan (Bus User, Balmedie) Ray Kenyon (Bus User, Newburgh) Anne Kenyon (Bus User, Newburgh) George Scott (Bus User) Sheila Scott (Bus User) John Carter (Bus User) M Jones (Bus User) Mark Fraser (Bus User) Tracey Fraser (Bus User) Dauna Matheson (Bus User) Yvonne Ferguson (Bus User) Doug Bain (Bain’s Coaches) Steve Walker (Managing Director, Stagecoach North Scotland) Neil Stewart (Principal Officer, Public Transport Unit, Aberdeenshire Council) Susan Watt (Senior Transport Officer, Public Transport Unit, Aberdeenshire Council) Apologies Councillor A. Robertson (Aberdeenshire Council) Councillor G. Owen (Aberdeenshire Council) Robert Martin (Bus User, Oldmeldrum) M. Hardy-Randall (Bus User, Newburgh) 1 1. Welcome and Introduction Councillor Merson welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were given. 2. Minutes of Meeting on 30 April 2015 It was raised from ‘the floor’ that Item 13.4. Page 9 was inaccurate as it was not confirmed at the meeting which services would serve Ellon Community Campus. Neil Stewart acknowledged this and confirmed that the information provided is correct, in that these services have now been diverted. The remainder of the minutes were approved. 3. Matters Arising from the Minutes Neil Stewart provided the following update on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council: 3.1 Regarding the request for the 0922 hours ex Ellon – Inverurie (Service 493) to be retarded to connect with the 0912 hours ex Newburgh – Ellon (Service 450: Newburgh – Ellon) (Monday to Friday) at Ellon Park and Ride, he advised that following the outcome of the tendering process, Kineil Coaches decided to operate these services on a commercial basis and the request was not fulfilled at that time. In the meantime, Stagecoach Bluebird’s contract awards were held in abeyance pending further developments and the Council has now been notified by Kineil Coaches that they will deregister these services, along with Services 251 (Fraserburgh – New Pitsligo – Ellon), 254 (Ellon Town Service) and 747 (Peterhead/Ellon – Dyce) with effect from 30 November 2015. This results in the original awards to Stagecoach Bluebird standing with effect from that same date and the request for the above journey re-timings will therefore be fulfilled at this time. 3.2 Regarding re-tendering of the schoolday journeys to Auchterellon Primary and Ellon Primary, the lowest acceptable tender received was approximately double that of the previous contract (£60,000 per annum). He confirmed that the journeys were funded from the Council’s Mainstream Home-to-School Transport Budget despite the fact that all the schoolchildren resided within 2 miles walking distance of their zoned schools. Given that the service therefore operated out-with Council policy in this regard, coupled with the cost involved, and pressure on the above Budget, the contract was not awarded. 2 3.3 Regarding local bus provision to/from the new Ellon Community Campus, he confirmed that Services 493 (Ellon – Inverurie) and 747 (Peterhead/Ellon – Dyce) operate via the facility, providing 5 inter-peak journeys to/from Ellon (Park and Ride)/Market Street Interchange. He advised that no passenger figures are available as the services are currently provided on a commercial basis, but the journeys will continue to operate at the same times from 30 November 2015. He also advised that the Council’s A2B Dial-A-Bus service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays within Ellon and is available to frail or disabled people who cannot access the local bus services and can be used for shopping trips, GP appointments, and for access to facilities at the new Campus. Susan Watt confirmed that Stagecoach Bluebird provides a weekday evening return journey on a commercial basis via the Campus but passenger numbers are currently very low. Steve Walker provided the following update on behalf of Stagecoach Bluebird: 3.4 In response to the complaint regarding drivers not adhering to the southbound and northbound timing points through Newburgh (the Quay and opposite Udny Arms Hotel respectively), he confirmed that instructions had been re- issued to all drivers concerned and the situation will be monitored. 3.5 In response to the request for northbound journeys on Service 35 (Aberdeen – Banff – Elgin) to revert to operation via Union Terrace, in particular for those returning home from HM Theatre (HMT) in Aberdeen, he confirmed that Service 35A (Aberdeen – Oldmeldrum/Elgin) currently provides an approximate half-hourly daytime service via Union Terrace, HMT and Great Northern Road. He advised that the company is currently working with HMT to allow those attending the theatre to pre-book a seat on a dedicated bus departing after the performance. People can book at the same time as they order tickets for a performance and the arrangement is partly funded by HMT Grants. 3.6 In response to the request for additional departures from Aberdeen to Turriff (Service 35) between 1505 hours and 1640 hours via ARI (Monday to Friday), he confirmed that that the corridor is currently being reviewed and it is likely that the frequency between Oldmeldrum and Aberdeen will be reduced from 15 minutes to 20 minutes, due to the downturn in the North East economy, which has resulted in a significant decrease in passengers. 3 3.7 In response to the request for a peak journey to bridge the gap between 1625 hours and 1822 hours (Monday to Friday) ex Market Street (Ellon) to Peterhead via Hatton, in particular around 1715 hours for those returning home from work, he confirmed that this is not currently commercially viable. (For information, Service 747 (Dyce - Ellon - Peterhead) departs from Market Street at 17:26 hours and operates via Hatton Road End.) 3.8 In response to the query as to whether a low floor vehicle will continue to be allocated to Service 251 (Fraserburgh - New Pitsligo – Ellon) from 30 November 2015, he confirmed this to be the case. He also confirmed that an additional return journey will be provided between New Pitsligo and Ellon on a commercial basis 3.9 In response to a claim regarding the frequent late operation of the 0725 hours from Methlick to Aberdeen (Saturday) (Service 291), he confirmed that this has been investigated and no further complaints have been received. 4. Stagecoach Bluebird Update Steve Walker provided the following update: 4.1 Buchan Corridor The company has invested £5½ million in 17 new vehicles, which will be allocated to the Buchan corridor as from November 2015, once the vehicles have been branded. He also confirmed that the service will be marketed as a ‘premier’ service. Stagecoach Bluebird were praised for their investment on the corridor. 4.2 Following the procurement exercise undertaken by Aberdeenshire Council, which has resulted in the company acquiring additional contracts. These additional supported services have been integrated into the current network without any major disruption to services, as from 16 August 2015. 4.3 Bus Service Revisions As from 14 December 2015, revisions will be implemented in the Formartine area. However due to the downturn in the North East economy there has been a significant decrease in passengers using the company’s services. As a consequence the company is currently reviewing its commercial services with a view to tailoring them more closely with demand, particularly at peak times. 4 5. Aberdeenshire Council Update Neil Stewart provided the following update: 5.1 Passenger Transport Review and Procurement Following the Aberdeenshire Council Passenger Transport Review, Local Bus service contracts were subject to tendering, with an implementation date of 17 August 2015. He highlighted the major changes as follows: i) Service 248 (New Byth - Fyvie - Inverurie) Requests have been received for the Monday only shoppers’ service to operate on Thursdays instead. This will be implemented as from week commencing 14 December 2015. ii) Service 308 (Aberchirder – Rothienorman – Inverurie) On the basis of passenger demand, the 1750 hours ex Auchterless and 1825 hours ex Inverurie were withdrawn from the Council’s tender specification. However, Bain’s Coaches decided to continue operating the existing service commercially as from 17 August 2015. The company has now decided to de- register the service with effect from 23 November 2015 and the revised timetable will be operated by Stagecoach Bluebird from this date. 5.2 Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey Neil Stewart advised that the annual survey of bus users in Aberdeenshire was undertaken in spring 2015, comprising of 600 on-street surveys, where passengers were asked questions about various aspects of bus travel, including reliability, cost of travel, information, conditions of buses and shelters and also the conduct of staff. He confirmed that the principal finding of this year’s survey is that Aberdeenshire bus users showed increased levels of satisfaction with the overall service and the vast majority of specific aspects of bus service delivery. The overall positive satisfaction across all 20 service delivery areas was 91%, with positive satisfaction increasing by over 5% in 7 categories, namely Service reliability (11%); Frequency (9%); Length of time waited for a bus (9%); Information on bus (9%); Condition of vehicles (9%); Directness of route (9%), and Smoothness of ride (8%).