Tillydrone Community Council secures new minibus

It's hoped a new electric minibus can help ease social isolation in Tillydrone.

The local Community Council has secured the £50,000 vehicle and aims to organise day trips and shopping excursions for people in the area who don't drive.

Chairwoman Eileen Grassick explained the minibus was needed to improve on the "shocking" connections to the rest of the city.

She said: "There are quite a few sheltered housing areas here and since Covid some of the residents have barely been outside the door - they’ve been shielding for so long they’ve lost that confidence.

"We want to be able to take them to the shops and whatnot and take young children on daytrips.

"It’s shocking there’s no bus to the beach. If you can’t drive it’s very difficult to get to. You have to either take two buses or walk, which is very difficult if you’re elderly or got young children.

"We are a bit like an island in the city. Lots of places are close by car, but if you can’t drive it’s very difficult."

The new minivan was funded by a grant from Nescan’s first year of the Just Transition Participatory Budget Fund, which is open to communities to vote on which projects are supported.

Alison Stuart, manager of Nescan Hub, said: "We are excited to see the benefits that the electric minibus brings to the local community and we hope that this will inspire other groups to apply for environmentally friendly and innovative projects in future rounds of the fund."