Deeside Omnibus Service to Go
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THEprivately owned Deeside Omnibus Service, with headquarters in Ballater, is to be closed after 40 years of operation. W. Alexander and Sons (Northern) Ltd, will take over the services, the deal involving the purchase of the company's 12 single-deck buses, and being subject to the approval of the Scottish Traffic Commissioners.
Strachan's "red buses ", as they are known locally, provide regular services on Deeside, one running from Aberdeen to Braemar and another from Banchory to Ballater, via Ballogie. Mrs. Helen Strachan, aged 64, and head of Deeside Omnibus Services since her husband died 35 years ago, has commented: "We just cannot carry on—it is hopeless. 1 was in a bus yesterday and there were just half a dozen people on it, all short-distance passengers.
The position of Strachan's 28 employees is not yet clear. Mr. W. B. Christison, general manager of Alexander and Sons (Northern) has stated it depends entirely on the extent to which the licences will be modified. The company will employ as many of the staff as it can absorb.