New flexible bus service delayed as discussions are ongoing
THERE HAS BEEN SOME ‘BACK AND FORTH’ BETWEEN THE TEAMS
A THREE-MONTH delay to the launch of new East Cleveland bus services is due to the fact the issue is “more complex” than usual.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service recently reported the launch for the number one and two service, being operated by Stagecoach, had been postponed again, to the frustration of councillors and residents. An application is with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, which licenses new routes, but the process of sign-off has yet to be completed.
The services are a partnership between the Tees Valley Combined
Authority (TVCA) and Redcar and Cleveland Council and will connect Brotton, Carlin How, Skelton, Lingdale, Liverton Mines, Loftus, Moorsholm and Skinningrove. They are also due to call at the East Cleveland Hospital in Brotton, Skelton Retail Park and Saltburn Railway station – at the request of the local authority.
It is understood it is these additions, which together aren’t on regular routes, that is one of the complicating factors.
A spokesman for the Office of the Traffic Commissioner said in a statement: “The applications are for a flexible service and as such are more complex than a standard application. Discussions are ongoing with the operator to ensure the services are registered correctly.”
The spokesman said there had been “some back and forth” between the bus registration team at the traffic commissioner’s office and Stagecoach and there was still documentation passing between the two to make sure everything was in order. He added: “Things are progressing and it will be good to go as soon as everything is completely in place for it.”
The bus services, which had been due to start at the end of March, will operate on a year-long trial basis with a financial subsidy being provided by TVCA.
Bus services in largely rural East Cleveland are already in a state of flux with Arriva North East proposing service reductions from July 9 following a dispute over concessionary fare funding with TVCA.