Anger over bus timetable changes

PASSENGERS were left fuming after being stuck out in the rain for almost an hour because a “miscommunication” caused them to miss their bus.

People wanting to catch the 1.55pm bus up the dale earlier this month arrived at the bus stop only to find that the bus had left ten minutes earlier. They were forced to wait for the next bus at 2.45pm.

One person whose brother missed the bus said: “Durham County Council altered the Scarlet Band bus schedule and not told anyone. The bus driver was unhappy with the new schedule as it meant him waiting a half hour in Barney then another half hour in Middleton-in-Teesdale to keep to the new schedule.”

The county council says it regrets the mistake which was caused by a miscommunication with the bus operator.

They say the change was made necessary because of a change in hours at Teesdale School. Ted Henderson, county councillor for Barnard Castle West, which covers Middleton-in-Teesdale, said he too had not been informed of the changes.

He added: “They admit they have made a mistake and publicity about the change hasn’t been the best. They changed the times because Teesdale School changed the times but they forgot to tell anyone about it.

“They apologised to me, but I said, don’t apologise to me, apologise to the people who use the buses.

“Unfortunately Durham County Council, at County Hall, are very poor at communication. Even this morning they admitted they got it wrong, but that doesn’t help the people who were waiting for the bus in the rain yesterday. I am sorry, but I feel that at times the south west is the forgotten part of the county.”

The county’s head of transport Adrian White confirmed that “modest changes” were made to the schedule of the 95 and 96 buses between Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale to facilitate

a change in hours at the school. He added: “Regrettably, a miscommunication between the bus operator Scarlet Band and ourselves led to the 1.55pm journey from Barnard Castle being operated ten minutes earlier than we’d publicised.

“We’re pleased to confirm that the correct time for this journey continues to be 1.55pm, which is in line with the information we display on-line and at bus stops, and Scarlet Band has already reverted back to this time.”