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FREE PARKING AND FREQUENT BUSES INTO THE CITY CENTRE THIS CHRISTMAS

A temporary park and ride service will be available for last minute Christmas shoppers heading into town this weekend.

Launched in partnership with Nestrans, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, First and Stagecoach, frequent buses will operate from the Kingswells Park and Ride site, taking in the car park at Aberdeenshire Council’s Woodhill House headquarters into the city centre on Saturday 17th, Sunday 18th and Saturday 24th December. Passengers will be able to take advantage of special low-cost fares and up to two children will be able to travel free when accompanied by an adult.

Free parking is being provided at Aberdeenshire Council’s Woodhill House headquarters and those using the service can take First services 40 and 23, which costs £2 return, Stagecoach service 18 which costs £2 return, or Stagecoach service 40 on Sundays which costs £1.50 return from Woodhill House on Westburn Road at the junction with Anderson Drive. All tickets include free return travel.

Derick Murray at NESTRANS said: “The park and ride service takes all the stress out of Christmas shopping – less time queuing for parking spaces means more time to browse for gifts. The buses are fast and frequent and serve the whole city centre. With parking in the city increasingly busy at this time of year – the park and ride is a cost effective option that can take you straight into the city centre without hassle of queuing for parking..”

“In particular, this is a good option for those travelling from the south and also from the A96 corridor, who don't normally have convenient access to a park and ride service.”

Gordon McIntosh, Aberdeen City Council’s director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure, said: “The city sees a huge increase in traffic every year in the run-up to Christmas and this year has been particularly busy so far, with increased traffic levels expected on an almost daily basis as Christmas draws nearer.

“While the influx of shoppers is great news for the local economy, the traffic levels they generate can cause delays and a great deal of frustration. I would encourage the travelling public to make use of the many public transport options available to them, consider car sharing, or shopping outwith the busiest times to avoid getting caught up in the rush. The festive Park and Ride service is a particularly good option”.

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