Councillors highlight concerns about large noisy coaches using residential routes

West End councillors Michael Crichton and Fraser Macpherson have raised residents’ concerns about large Scottish Citylink coaches going to Glasgow which have recently been diverted to residential areas of Perth Road, rather than using Riverside Drive where these buses have operated for years.

In May, the councillors were advised by council transport officers :

“Scottish Citylink made the decision to operate their hourly Perth/Stirling/Glasgow bound coach services along Perth Road. Citylink services to Edinburgh will continue to operate via Riverside Drive.” 

Councillor Crichton said:
“Since May, we have had concerns from residents that Perth Road is not suitable for large coaches of this type. The westerly end (west of Sinderins) is highly residential and we have had a spate of complaints from constituents about the noise and disruption caused by these vehicles.  The eastern end (east of Sinderins in the Perth Road District Shopping Centre) is very congested and completely unsuitable for these very large coaches.”

“There’s little evidence of these coaches picking up additional passengers along the Perth Road part of the route. Passengers tend to get on these services to Glasgow in the City Centre, so we question the point of using residential areas for large coaches. They have far more impact on the street than local buses.”     

“Residents have told us that they feel these hourly Perth/Stirling/Glasgow bound coach services should be moved away from Perth Road and back into Riverside Drive. That would be a far more appropriate road for these vehicles which were meant for non-residential roads." 

One of the residents who contacted the councillors highlighted his concerns as follows:

“The issue for me concerns the Perth Road district centre itself, which those big coaches must run through to reach the Queen's Hotel. I don't believe this section of the Perth Road is suitable for coaches, including tri-axels - not least because of their larger size, heavier weight, and general congestion - of parked and moving vehicles alike.
With stops on the Nethergate and at the bus station, is it really necessary for there to be stops on at the Queens Hotel as well? Interurban services shouldn't stop nearly as frequently as that.It has been established for years that Citylink serves the bus station on the Seagate, so why have they decided to cram themselves into these constricted and congested areas?”

The councillors raised this with Scottish Citylink who have advised :

“We do appreciate all feedback and will always review the routes at our given next service change which will come into place in October.  This isn’t a promise of change, but we will review this to ensure it is meeting both business and public sense.”

Councillor Crichton added:
“We are pleased that Scottish Citylink will review this route in October as it would be far more appropriate if these large coaches were moved back onto Riverside Drive.”