Broughty councillor Derek Scott today expressed concern about the proposed withdrawal of the 69 service and appealed to Stagecoach to rethink.

“This bus provides a valuable link for local people in accessing the shops, post office, doctors, dentists and other important amenities in the centre of Broughty Ferry,” Councillor Scott said.

“It is particularly important to those people who live in areas where there is limited alternative provision.

“In October I met with the managing director of Stagecoach East Scotland following previous changes to the 69 service.

“The concerns I raised at that time were taken on board and an additional afternoon journey was added to the service — those concerns are even more relevant now.”

It is understood Stagecoach intends to scrap services running at a loss or attracting low passenger numbers.

“There is a community need that is met by the 69 and I understand that 80% of the passengers using the service are elderly,” Councillor Scott said.

“I have contacted Strathtay to find out what can be done to keep this service running.

“I have also asked Dundee City Council’s transportation manager to consider whether the criteria are met whereby the council can provide a subsidy to allow the service to continue.

“Strathtay has kindly offered to meet me to discuss what can be done.”

Meanwhile, elderly Craigie residents have reacted angrily to the withdrawal of the 70 service between the city centre and their neighbourhood.

Mary Anderson (81), Aboyne Avenue, said the service was a lifeline for many elderly residents.

“I know the service wasn’t being used enough but if they’d kept it once or twice a week it would have been fine — there are a lot of people around here who are over 80 and need the bus to get around,” she said.

She claims the removal of the service has left many residents stranded.

“It used to come right into the middle of Craigie so that made it accessible for everybody. But that’s gone now, and no buses come into the scheme at all. Craigie is always left out.”

Last night worried residents in Dundee’s West End gathered to discuss the imminent loss of a bus service.

Some 40 residents attended the meeting, organised by local councillor Fraser Macpherson, to discuss Stagecoach’s proposal to remove the 72 bus service.

Doug Fleming, managing director of Stagecoach East Scotland, said, “As with any business, we closely monitor the demand for our services and products and react where appropriate.

“In the case of services 69 and 72, continued low patronage means we will cease to operate these services from August 18.

“The area served by the 69 service will continue to be served by a range of other services. Local councillors were made aware when the service was last reviewed in March that we would need to closely monitor patronage levels over the next few months due to low usage.

“Operating commercially, it is not a sustainable service. We are reviewing the network in order to still offer a level of service to some of the residents affected by the withdrawal of the 72.”

The company declined to comment on the axeing of the 70 service, as it was subsidised by the city council, which made the decision to withdraw it.