It looks like the 235 bus service is about to be withdrawn and the 35/35A service reduced in frequency.
In the Winter 2015 issue of Newmachar News Councillor Martin Ford says:
At the most recent meeting of the Garioch Area Bus Forum, Steve Walker of Stagecoach advised that bus passenger numbers had dropped due to the impact of lower oil prices on the local economy. Accordingly, Stagecoach need to take capacity out of its network, and bus services on the A947 corridor will be reduced. Mr Walker indicated the 35/35A service would probably be cut next year (2016) to three buses per hour (instead of the four in the current timetable) while the 235 would cease to operate later this year (2015). This is obviously disappointing. I acknowledge, of course, the commercial reality for Stagecoach of needing to match the number of journeys to passenger demand. What I have asked though is that the timetable revision maintains all the current routes: ie some journeys via both Foresterhill and Berryden and some services to Dyce ASDA and Kingseat. The 35/35A and 235 are part of the Stagecoach commercial network, not funded by Aberdeenshire Council, so the decision on a revised timetable is up to the company.
Later in the same edition Linda Rendall tells us about a proposed "Newmachar Mini-interchange hub":
Aberdeenshire Council is proposing to develop a mini-interchange hub at the southern end of the village (Newmachar). The aim of the project is to provide improved access to public transport for rural communities that are not directly served by existing bus services. The proposal is that there would be a small car park (18 car parking spaces and three parking spaces for the disabled) behind the existing southbound bus stop as well as the installation of cycle storage facilities. Feedback from the local community will be invited when the planning application is submitted so if you wish to comment on the application, please check the planning applications on Aberdeenshire Council's website.
So, it looks as if in the short term we will lose the 235, but in the longer term some of the 35/35A buses (or whatever it is called after the service is revised) may call in at Kingseat, and this may also involve a small "Park & Ride" car park in Newmachar.
At the moment it's not clear when the 235 will stop - the last service on TraveLine Scotland is on 30th November, but the Stagecoach website shows it running until at least 24th December - we wait to see which is correct...
In the Winter 2015 issue of Newmachar News Councillor Martin Ford says:
At the most recent meeting of the Garioch Area Bus Forum, Steve Walker of Stagecoach advised that bus passenger numbers had dropped due to the impact of lower oil prices on the local economy. Accordingly, Stagecoach need to take capacity out of its network, and bus services on the A947 corridor will be reduced. Mr Walker indicated the 35/35A service would probably be cut next year (2016) to three buses per hour (instead of the four in the current timetable) while the 235 would cease to operate later this year (2015). This is obviously disappointing. I acknowledge, of course, the commercial reality for Stagecoach of needing to match the number of journeys to passenger demand. What I have asked though is that the timetable revision maintains all the current routes: ie some journeys via both Foresterhill and Berryden and some services to Dyce ASDA and Kingseat. The 35/35A and 235 are part of the Stagecoach commercial network, not funded by Aberdeenshire Council, so the decision on a revised timetable is up to the company.
Later in the same edition Linda Rendall tells us about a proposed "Newmachar Mini-interchange hub":
Aberdeenshire Council is proposing to develop a mini-interchange hub at the southern end of the village (Newmachar). The aim of the project is to provide improved access to public transport for rural communities that are not directly served by existing bus services. The proposal is that there would be a small car park (18 car parking spaces and three parking spaces for the disabled) behind the existing southbound bus stop as well as the installation of cycle storage facilities. Feedback from the local community will be invited when the planning application is submitted so if you wish to comment on the application, please check the planning applications on Aberdeenshire Council's website.
So, it looks as if in the short term we will lose the 235, but in the longer term some of the 35/35A buses (or whatever it is called after the service is revised) may call in at Kingseat, and this may also involve a small "Park & Ride" car park in Newmachar.
At the moment it's not clear when the 235 will stop - the last service on TraveLine Scotland is on 30th November, but the Stagecoach website shows it running until at least 24th December - we wait to see which is correct...