“I have had many of my constituents coming to me about the changes, especially the removal of the 9 and 10 services,” she said.

Bus company National Express Dundee introduced a raft of changes to services last month which, it said, were long overdue and designed to serve the present day travelling public and ensure buses ran on time.

It was pointed out that many of the old routes had been put in place decades ago to serve an industrial workforce that no longer exists and that some new housing estates which have grown up had no bus service.

However, that has cut little ice with those who insist the changes are making life difficult.

Several of Mrs Wright’s constituents met with her at the council to outline the effects the service changes are having.

Margaret Murray (72), Glenesk Avenue, said, “They’ve taken off the 9 and 10 buses. That means we don’t have a bus within easy reach to get to the supermarket or to Ninewells Hospital.

“There are a lot of old people in the area and now they’ll have to walk about half a mile to get a bus that’s convenient for them.”

Jean Mackie (80), Glenesk Avenue, said she was one of those who now had to get two different buses to get to her doctor. She said the same thing applied for some people in getting to a supermarket and the return journey, when laden with shopping, was causing problems.

Rita Donnat (81), Alpin Terrace, said the buses that did come along were sometimes already full and passengers had to wait for the next one, which could be a long time in arriving.

Councillor Wright said a petition protesting about the changes had been signed by more than 1000 folk in the area. East End ward councillor George Regan said he had also been getting complaints. He called on the company to meet with councillors.

National Express Dundee managing director Lawrence Davie said he would be willing to meet with Councillor Wright and her constituents, as well as Councillor Regan to discuss the issues.

* Furious Lochee residents have also been filling in a petition aimed at reversing changes to some of Dundee’s bus services.

The campaign, which was set up by pensioner Catherine Mitchell, of Cobden Street Sheltered Housing, follows hot on the heels of folk from the Glens and the West End launching similar appeals (see main story).

Mrs Mitchell (77) said there are now 22 pages of signatures with people who are unhappy with the revised timetables recently launched by National Express.

That is because a lot of folk, in particular those who are vulnerable and elderly, no longer have easy access to bus services they used to rely on.

“It doesn’t matter where you go to, you’ve got to get two buses there and two buses back now,” she said.

“What we want is the old 9 and the 10 services back.”