Dear Editor
Following the letters in Newton News about the re-routing of No 7 bus to include Tesco, Aldi and Argos, etc, I contacted Arriva to add my support for the suggestion.
A few days later, I got a phone call from a very pleasant young man at Arriva. He said discussions were ongoing, and they were noting people’s concerns etc.
One concern was that re-routing alternate buses via Tesco, etc, would mean that some people would then have only a half hourly service instead of quarter hourly.
I then had another think, and suggested a new idea, which he said he would put forward:- Run all No 7 buses on the current route from Woodham to the Town Centre, then detour down Central Avenue to the Tesco stop, round St Mary’s Church roundabout and back up Central Avenue to St Clare’s Church roundabout and continue the present route to Darlington.
On the return journey, take the same detour before the Town Centre stop. It would add less than 5 minutes to the journey, would be a big help to people in the Woodham areas, and would also attract passengers from the Burn Lane/Shafto Way/ Central Avenue areas, travelling to Darlington or Chilton/ Ferryhill/ Durham.
I await developments, but wonder What other bus users think of this idea?
Linda Ratcliffe