The fight to save a “lifeline” bus service for Mill o’ Mains has reached the Scottish Parliament.
Dundee-based MSP Jenny Marra has asked Parliament to condemn the decision by National Express to axe the number 36 bus service.
The hourly bus service, which connects Claverhouse, Mill o’ Mains, Linlathen and Mid Craigie with the city centre, is scheduled to stop running on October 20.
Ms Marra, Labour MSP for North-East Scotland, asked the Parliament to “condemn the withdrawal of the 36 bus service” and attacked National Express and Dundee City Council transport for failing to give “assurance of future service provision for communities in Linlathen, Mid Craigie, Claverhouse and Mill o’ Mains”.
Dundee North-East Labour councillor Brian Gordon is also backing the residents’ campaign to save the service.
He said: “Both the council and National Express suggest that the other services, 208 and the 33, can adequately cover the residents of these areas and I and the residents dispute this.
“The 208 runs between 9.30 and 2.30 and does not meet the needs of the residents of these areas and was never requested in the first place.
“The 33 service means a walk to Fintry. That, for some residents, is for many reasons out of the question.”
Mr Gordon claimed that the neighbouring East End Ward (Honeygreen/Linlathen and Mid Craigie) will also suffer due to similar problems with the withdrawal of the 36 service.
Mill o’ Mains Tenants and Residents’ Association (MOMTRA) spokesman Jim Malone said: “It is excellent news that Jenny Marra has raised the issue in Parliament.
“Taking the service away is going to have a severe impact on the people living in the community.
“It’s bizarre that they’re repopulating and regenerating the estate, yet the public transport side of it is being completely ignored.
“The service is a lifeline for the community for attending shops, post offices, doctor surgeries, all different areas that the bus service currently goes through.”
A petition to persuade National Express Dundee to reverse their decision has been signed by around 700 people.
MOMTRA has said that if a meeting is not organised by today, campaigners have said they will consider taking direct action against the bus company.
A spokeswoman for National Express Dundee said: “We have had to alter some of our routes in this area because of changing local travel patterns and we have tried to minimise the impact on customers as a result of this.
“National Express Dundee managing director Phil Smith has also attended public meetings with senior council officials to discuss these changes with the local community.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience to customers.”