(19 Jan 2014, 4:04 pm)CatsFast101 Services are bad enough round Stanley way without losing the depot as there been no presence at the end if the routes.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:17 pm)citaro5284 But you will have a presence near the Newcastle end of the route. I cannot see the point if Riverside is able to fit the Newcastle routes in, they do not move them in, bearing in mind the 43/44/45/46 all past the front doors.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:08 pm)Adam Malarkey Man you guys must be mind readers or something, as on Friday when out on my Bike I think found great spot for a New Depot for Chester le Street/Washington, But I forgot to Mention it due to being tired etc, Then I seen Daniels Photos at Riverside and jogged my Memory, In the attachment below I have outlined where the New Site would be along with the 2 Current Depots in which it will replace.

Now Although on the Attachment it may not look all that Big for a New Bus Depot to be situated, but when riding past it on Friday it is quite a Big Plot of Land, Plus it is in a Very Handy spot at the Bottom of the Motorway would allow for quick and easy access for Services operating in the Washington Area, which can either go up the Motorway or Alternatively through Picktree Village for example if the M2/M3 are Starting at Birtley/Ayton on a Morning etc.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:44 pm)Tom Is there any chance at all of the Cobalt Clipper geminis o be out this week?

(19 Jan 2014, 4:31 pm)aureolin That site is completely unsuitable for an industrial unit. There's no access for a start. Two buses can barely get past each other on Picktree lane, never mind trying to swing one in and out of a junction. I doubt anything of the such would ever get approved for that plot of land or the one just north of it, as it would likely face fierce opposition from the residential builds.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:31 pm)aureolin That site is completely unsuitable for an industrial unit. There's no access for a start. Two buses can barely get past each other on Picktree lane, never mind trying to swing one in and out of a junction. I doubt anything of the such would ever get approved for that plot of land or the one just north of it, as it would likely face fierce opposition from the residential builds.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:46 pm)Adam Malarkey On the Main Road itself there is 2 Access Points onto that bit of land, to be honest that road is a Deathtrap for Cyclists like myself, far to narrow but on the flipside the road could always be widened to Accomodate Buses coming in and out of the Depot, also with a Reduced Speed Limit also, I also thought that an access point from the Rear of the Site on the Slip Road coming off the A1 from Washington could also be put into place to ease Congestion on the Main Road. Other than Drum I can't think of anywhere else GNE could possibly move the Chester le Street and Washington Operations to, Although there is that huge plot of land on the Opposite side of the A1 accross the Road from Birtley Industrial Estate where Kingsleys are Based, and that alone more than likely treble the size of the Plot of Land I had Originally Suggested.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:46 pm)Adam Malarkey Although there is that huge plot of land on the Opposite side of the A1 accross the Road from Birtley Industrial Estate where Kingsleys are Based, and that alone more than likely treble the size of the Plot of Land I had Originally Suggested.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:46 pm)Adam Malarkey On the Main Road itself there is 2 Access Points onto that bit of land, to be honest that road is a Deathtrap for Cyclists like myself, far to narrow but on the flipside the road could always be widened to Accomodate Buses coming in and out of the Depot, also with a Reduced Speed Limit also, I also thought that an access point from the Rear of the Site on the Slip Road coming off the A1 from Washington could also be put into place to ease Congestion on the Main Road. Other than Drum I can't think of anywhere else GNE could possibly move the Chester le Street and Washington Operations to, Although there is that huge plot of land on the Opposite side of the A1 accross the Road from Birtley Industrial Estate where Kingsleys are Based, and that alone more than likely treble the size of the Plot of Land I had Originally Suggested.

(19 Jan 2014, 5:19 pm)andreos1 That land at Picktree is owned by Lord Lambton, who is known to be keen on exploring avenues in creating a cash pile - but getting permission to build an industrial site on greenbelt land, will never happen.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:04 pm)CatsFast101 Services are bad enough round Stanley way without losing the depot as there been no presence at the end if the routes.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:55 pm)gtomlinson A few years ago Eddie Stobart looked at that site for a layover for their vehicles. They were advised the application would be refused due to the nearby position of Lord Lawson school and HGV's using Birtley Lane.

I'd assume GNE would suffer the same refusal if they applied

(19 Jan 2014, 5:23 pm)northtynelinks2 Don't take this personally but I disagree. Not every depot is perfect and does have its rare allocations but if you look at Stanley compared to other depots, you will find a lot less branded buses on the wrong routes and more northern buses out replacing branded buses which is good management. Most of the time Olympians are only ever used on services on Weekends and School Holidays. Probably because its a weekend and a lot of people are off work so it will help manage the capacity and more appropriately to get all of the Branded buses in and checked over since this is the only time they really have as the Deckers are used during School Terms.

(19 Jan 2014, 5:38 pm)Adam Malarkey I don't think Lord Lawson School would have any affect on a New Depot on Birtley Lane as the School is situated 2 Minutes away from Birtley High Street in the Centre of Birtley, As for Eddie Stobart if all they were going use the site for was for layovers, then I can see why it got knocked back, when you have Washington Services just across the other side of the A1. I can't really see a Problem in GNE using this Plot of Land for a Potential Depot.

(19 Jan 2014, 5:54 pm)gtomlinson Yes but your not having potentially around a hundred vehicles using Birtley Lane daily which is the issue. Gateshead as a Council have a fairly aggressive policy when it comes to road safety and schools. You can't even look in the direction of a school without them shooting at you

Portmeads Road isn't really suitable either for the increase in traffic, the X25 struggles with the parked cars

(19 Jan 2014, 7:52 pm)peter Is the Handy Drive/Riverside site entirely taken up or is there room for an extension to replace depots such as Saltmeadows or Hexham or even room to take on newcastle serving Stanley services in the future?