(13 Sep 2013, 9:36 am)eezypeazy Even in the heydays of the 1950s, public transport in Hexham's 'hinterland' was very thin. Anyone who lives beyond Allenheads or Bellingham has never had a bus service that would enable them to commute into Newcastle, for example (though it's perfectly possible even today from Newbrough, Allenheads and Allendale Town). So people who are "forced to drive into Hexham" have never had another option, so it's not a question of being 'forced'; it's a question of knowing that if, for whatever reason, you live somewhere remote, you might suffer from isolation if you can't drive (an issue that the HoC Transport Select Committee is currently considering).

(13 Sep 2013, 1:12 pm)eezypeazy No one is "forced"; everyone is presented with choices, dependent on their circumstances.

If I don't drive and live beyond a bus route and am fit and well, I have the choice of walking, cycling, taxis, or lifts from friends; I have the choice of home delivery services for my shopping, and/or everything else that the internet offers (unless I live beyond the electricity supply); lack of electricity or gas doesn't "force" me to burn coal, peat or wood to keep warm, it simply reduces the available choices.

"Forced" implies "absolutely no other choice", which is not the case.

I agree, though, that circumstances limit choice, but that's true of everything.

If you're going to pepper your posts with emotive language like "forced", then I'll be forced to post pedantic replies!

(13 Sep 2013, 1:56 pm)Adam Malarkey 4961 NA52 WVS in Northern Livery on the M1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9733483851/

(13 Sep 2013, 2:02 pm)BJ10VUS Very smart!

(13 Sep 2013, 1:56 pm)Adam Malarkey 4961 NA52 WVS in Northern Livery on the M1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9733483851/

(13 Sep 2013, 2:17 pm)Michael Is the rest of the Scania's at Washington going Northern red?

(13 Sep 2013, 2:23 pm)Adam Malarkey No Idea Michael, I haven't heard or read anything about what will happen to 4962-66. Hopefully we'll find in the next week or 2.

(13 Sep 2013, 2:27 pm)Michael Wonder then if 4961 is gonna be a spare for the Waggonway?

Gonna be a intresting few months for new orders...

Question:

What colour will the Streetlites/Citaros be when they turn up?

(13 Sep 2013, 1:24 pm)Andreos1 'Synonyms of force: force, compel, coerce,
constrain, oblige, obligate These verbs mean to cause a person or thing to follow a prescribed or dictated course'

So unless I am missing something, people living in the Tyne Valley, without access to public transport are forced to follow a prescribed course in getting into Hexham to continue their onward journey...

(13 Sep 2013, 2:35 pm)eezypeazy "Constrain" I will grant you. But lack of a bus does not compel, coerce, oblige or obligate anyone into a prescribed or dictated course.

I've often thought that a very interesting and useful bus route would start in Newcastle and operate once a day (and return) via Shotley Bridge to Edmundbyers, Stanhope, Middleton in Teessdale, Kirkby Stephen, Dent, Settle, Burnley and Bury to Manchester. To the best of my knowledge, such a complete route has never existed and I doubt it ever will. But it would be wrong to say that without this bus service people are "forced" into any other course of action; they are simply constrained by lack of one particular choice from many. In this case, the constraint has always existed, so people's choices have always been limited by one less option. This is not to deny the right of anyone living along this particular route to ask for it, but even the most optimistic bus enthusiast would probably admit that there couldn't ever be a sustainable demand for such a thing. Neither is this to deny the right of local authorities along such a route to provide it should they so choose. But you can't turn the absence of such a bus into people being "forced" to do anything other than consider the other options... unless, of course, you're a journalist looking for a catchy headline.

(13 Sep 2013, 3:23 pm)Daniel Lime involved in a little bump on Chester Rd...

(13 Sep 2013, 3:41 pm)Michael Looks like it was the cars tried to get though and it hasn't worked.

(13 Sep 2013, 3:52 pm)Michael By any change was the car driver old or a women... not being sexisit but its mainly them who cause problems... lol

(13 Sep 2013, 3:23 pm)Daniel Lime involved in a little bump on Chester Rd...

(13 Sep 2013, 3:23 pm)Daniel Lime involved in a little bump on Chester Rd...

(13 Sep 2013, 4:32 pm)Adam Malarkey This just a theory here , if you look at the photo to the left showing the rear of both Vehicles, Note the Car has a Punctured Tyre at Front on Left side, could it be possible that when going at Speed the tyre popped and the car has went into the back of the Bus, plus if you look at the Positioning. The car rather than leave a dint in the back of the bus, it has some how managed to twist the rear section of the Bus into the side of the Car upon collision possibly. Plus i'm pretty sure 9/10 Drivers would have managed to get past this sort of thing no bother as it happens on Daily Basis on this Section of Chester RD.