26/02/10 - Challenging Arriva on rural bus services in East Cleveland

Mr Ian McInroy

Managing Director

Arriva North East

FREEPOST NT 2040

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE2 1BR

25^th February 2010

Dear Mr McInroy

Over the past 18 months I have distributed thousands of surveys across East Cleveland.  An issue that comes up time and time again is the frequency and reliability of rural bus services.  Will you give me an update on what action has been taken following the petition that was presented to local councillors about recent service changes in East Cleveland?

As I understand it, changes last year resulted in no services from Liverton Mines to Loftus Marketplace, a reduction of services from four to two every hour, and the removal of the X3 link with Skelton, Redcar and central Middlesbrough.  Furthermore, many services now stop short of Skinningrove, Carlin How, Loftus, Easington and other local villages.  This diminished service has caused a great deal of anger and frustration locally and is impacting disproportionately the elderly and vulnerable. 

Another matter is the reliability of services. East Cleveland has been hit hard as a result of the recession with unemployment increasing by 50% in just one year.  I have been contacted by one particular resident from Loftus who, after a lengthy period of unemployment, secured a job in Middlesbrough.  He does not drive and relies almost entirely on local bus services to get to work.  The service to Middlesbrough is often late and on a small number of occasions has not turned up at all.   He has been forced to ask for lifts from family and friends, or has to call work and inform them he will not be coming in.  He is worried he will lose his job.

This is not an isolated case.  Many residents have been left waiting during the extremely cold weather this winter for long periods of time with little shelter.  While drivers do an excellent job, there does appear to be issues with the reliability of services. 

In addition to an update on what you propose to do following the petition from local people, will you inform me what Redcar & Cleveland council can offer Arriva to support less popular and profitable routes?  Will you release figures on the numbers of passengers using services in East Cleveland before and after the recent changes?  Will you meet with me and explain your strategy on serving these communities now and in the future?

Rural bus services are often a lifeline for local communities.  They are gateways for employment and the means by which many elderly and vulnerable people access support services.  I am absolutely determined to what I can to ensure that local residents are services by a reliable and frequent bus services.

Yours sincerely

Paul Bristow

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate 
for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland