The acting director of Dundee’s bus company is to leave his post after five months in the job but his employers insist there is nothing untoward about his departure.
National Express Dundee said the move was not connected to protests about Simon Mathieson’s stewardship of the city’s bus services and has nothing to do with an investigation into an allegation that he was assaulted by an employee on the day of a wildcat strike by drivers last week.
Mr Mathieson walked into a storm of criticism when he took charge. Councillors challenged him to face-to-face meetings over timetable changes and up to 38% increases in some fares.
He replaced Lawrence Davie, whose controversial reign was marked by his comment that negative public feedback to past service changes came from passengers in the 70-plus age bracket, who tended to want a doorstep service.
A spokesman for National Express Dundee said Mr Mathieson’s term in Dundee was always intended to be temporary.
“He came to Dundee while the position there was vacant and that position has now been given to Phil Smith. Simon Mathieson will now be returning to Travel West Midlands’ operations his tenure was always intended to be temporary and he is moving on to another post in the company.”
He said Mr Smith is coming to Dundee from Stagecoach, where he has been operations director for north-west England. “He has a wealth of operational and commercial expertise and also significant experience in Dundee as he has worked in the city previously.”
Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into an allegation that a bus driver tried to attack Mr Mathieson last Thursday. The driver is understood to be staying away from work, although he has not been suspended.
A spokeswoman for National Express said, “This is a private matter between the company and the employee and it isn’t appropriate to comment further publicly. An investigation is ongoing so it isn’t possible to comment on the specifics of the matter.”
The man allegedly lunged towards Mr Mathieson as the director passed him inside the bus depot on Dock Street.
A witness said, “One of the drivers was in one of the corridors when Simon Mathieson was walking through and he went for him. He shouted and some of the other drivers had to hold him back. It was on Thursday and tensions were running really high.”