Regular bus service a boon for city

SIR, – I was dismayed to read that the Number 5 bus route from Northfield into the city centre is seemingly under threat. I have lived in the upper half of Cornhill Road for over 45 years, and the Number 5 bus offers us the quickest route we have ever had into those parts of the city centre where we most wish to be deposited.

The complaints about the route reportedly being voiced by some Rosemount residents are largely spurious. There is no earthly reason why buses should not use one-way streets such as Mount Street, and the problems for the bus associated with illegal parking in that street were largely eliminated months ago.

As for rattling the houses, buses have rattled our house for the past 45 years, and at one time it was at a frequency of every seven minutes, which we welcomed, for it signified what a fine bus service we then had. By contrast Mount Street hosts a bus for a few seconds every half hour.

As for the notion that folk should be free to oppose bus routes from which they do not directly greatly benefit because the buses do not stop ultraconveniently for them, try applying that same logic to speedy train services which offer only limited stops. It is patently a nonsense.

I trust that First Group will continue to listen to those who use the No 5 bus and also to those who drive it, for the ‘Northfield to town' and ‘town to Northfield' sections are popular with both of those groups. RD Wilson, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen