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Campaign launched to save Stockton bus service as MP accuses Arriva of ‘cherry-picking’ routes
An MP has accused a bus company of cutting off vulnerable people and putting profits before people in a campaign to save a service which connects numerous Teesside towns.
Stockton South MP Matt Vickers has called on people to sign a petition to save the 17 bus service, one of the routes at risk from Arriva’s cuts. The bus company, meanwhile, is appealing to the government in a funding dispute as it claims the Tees Valley Combined Authority has not given it enough money to cover its costs.
Under timetable changes coming into force on July 9, Arriva says the number 17 will be “curtailed at Ingleby Barwick twice per hour and will no longer extend to Yarm and Kingsmead. Buses will operate via the existing clockwise loop in Ingleby Barwick performed by the short Service 17 currently, albeit twice per hour.” The service will stop at about 9pm Monday to Saturday and at about 7.30pm Sundays, “regrettably both owing to unsustainable passenger demand”.
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Mr Vickers has said the prospect of the service which connects Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick and Stockton being “axed” had caused concern among residents and would leave vulnerable people cut off from shops and health care and children unable to get to school. He accused bus operator Arriva of “cherry-picking” routes and cutting services despite extra government funding, and has raised the issue with Transport Secretary Mark Harper.
He said: “The government has been very generous with commitments to protect our local bus services. Deals made throughout the pandemic kept these operators afloat, and recently the Department for Transport also announced an extension to the £2 bus fare cap, alongside further funding of £1,529,447 to support and improve bus services for passengers.
“The impact from Arriva’s proposed cuts and alterations will be huge, with commuters unable to access their jobs, healthcare, and education. Arriva’s decision to put profits before people is unfair, and leaves residents facing the consequences of a completely commercial decision.
“I have begun a petition for any of my constituents who will be affected by these changes. I am hopeful that the number of signatures will highlight how the community is being punished by Arriva’s decision.”
Arriva has apologised for the disruption caused by the changes and said they were made as a last resort aiming to minimise costs, but said funding rates “will not continue to cover the costs of running a significant number of our services”. It says concessionary fares rates from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) had been cut by up to 28% compared to pre-Covid, “well below the levels paid by other authorities within the region”.
Dispute over settlement
A spokesperson for Arriva North East said: “In some areas, customer demand for our bus services has reduced, so we have changed our timetables. As a dynamic transport operator, Arriva works hard to ensure that we adapt to our passengers’ demand and travel patterns, while making sure our services are punctual.
“The £1.5m additional funding has been given to Tees Valley Combined Authority as the Department for Transport acknowledges that a greater volume of routes are no longer viable for operators. We look forward to working with them to see how this can be best used for passengers in TVCA.”
Mr Vickers claimed Arriva rejected an agreement with the Tees Valley Combined Authority and local councils which had been accepted by other operators including Stagecoach and Go North East with minimal route reductions.
Arriva dispute this: “We wanted to confirm Arriva hasn’t refused any ENCTS offer. We do, however, dispute the proposed settlement which we believe doesn’t meet the statutory requirements for reimbursement. We have therefore entered into the formal appeal process with the Department for Transport and we remain keen to work with our partners to secure a satisfactory outcome for all.”
‘No easy one-size-fits-all solution’
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and the leaders of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington councils made a joint statement recently saying: “We hear the concerns raised by residents that will be affected by the recently announced Arriva service cuts. The mayor and leaders of the councils have been working very closely together to understand what can be done to mitigate the impact of these cuts and consider a potential way forward.
“The Tees Valley Combined Authority and local councils are working in lockstep on this and looking at a range of potential options. Given the economic climate, there is no easy one-size-fits-all solution but make no mistake, we are all working extremely hard to find a way through this, and we’ll continue to work closely with one another over the coming days.
“We expect to be able to provide a further update in the near future.”
At a town council meeting this week, Councillor Ted Strike said paid-for seats were available on concessionary buses for children, and parents were encouraged to apply for them to Stockton Council. He said: “It doesn’t do any good for the people who want to get to Yarm in 15 minutes, but the children will get to school.”
