(05 Jul 2022, 3:11 pm)Unber43 wrote I think you can say 100% 21/X21 are going to Riverside. 

But thats gonna need alot of drivers!

I'm not sure you know, on paper it seems obvious but I'm not sure it is. X21 in particular.

Might see services go the other way aswell, 6 to Consett could be one if needed.

(05 Jul 2022, 3:29 pm)Storx wrote I'm not sure you know, on paper it seems obvious but I'm not sure it is. X21 in particular.

Might see services go the other way aswell, 6 to Consett could be one if needed.

If the 6 works alone it should.

(04 Jul 2022, 9:36 pm)Dan wrote Let’s not kid ourselves. There’s a TU-led “save our depot” campaign - SOD GNE for short - which is all over social media and there’s an unofficial overtime ban.

It is no coincidence, but I’m not sure it changes anything.


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"I'm not sure whether "SOD" was intentionally chosen as a backronym or if it's a mere coincidence, but it does seem kinda accurate!

(05 Jul 2022, 4:29 pm)wibblejunior wrote "I'm not sure whether "SOD" was intentionally chosen as a backronym or if it's a mere coincidence, but it does seem kinda accurate!

Yes, I dare say someone thought they were very smart coming up with that one!


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(05 Jul 2022, 4:43 pm)The Dan wrote Yes, I dare say someone thought they were very smart coming up with that one!


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Very clever indeed. The driver of my X21 this afternoon was wearing a badge with this on it.

it didn’t scream “Save our depot” to me, but the message was clear nonetheless.

(04 Jul 2022, 12:09 pm)Aaron21 wrote So they should. I don't understand the whole reason there shutting it down. There no logical sense apart from Gilbert is losing his mind. 

If Chester drivers strike. Good on them

If they're in the spineless Unite union there will be no strike.

(06 Jul 2022, 7:06 pm)Driver9*** wrote If they're in the spineless Unite union there will be no strike.

The same Unite the Union that have won concessions right across the country in the bus industry?

The members are the Union, so if you feel it's weak in your workplace, then look around you.

(07 Jul 2022, 10:02 am)Adrian wrote The same Unite the Union that have won concessions right across the country in the bus industry?

The members are the Union, so if you feel it's weak in your workplace, then look around you.

The same Unite union that allowed Arriva to bring in a brand new pay structure for new starters which means they get paid less an hour now for driving a conventional bus than they would have if they'd started 7 or 8 years ago? That Unite?

(07 Jul 2022, 3:20 pm)Driver9*** wrote The same Unite union that allowed Arriva to bring in a brand new pay structure for new starters which means they get paid less an hour now for driving a conventional bus than they would have if they'd started 7 or 8 years ago? That Unite?

Wasn't that deal put to, voted on and accepted by members?

(07 Jul 2022, 5:07 pm)Adrian wrote Wasn't that deal put to, voted on and accepted by members?

No. "As it doesn't effect you" was the unions reason.

(07 Jul 2022, 6:40 pm)Driver9*** wrote No. "As it doesn't effect you" was the unions reason.

What percentage of driving staff are unionised? I know in other depots in the UK it's as low as 15%.....

(07 Jul 2022, 6:40 pm)Driver9*** wrote No. "As it doesn't effect you" was the unions reason.

It would have been part of the deal though surely, and therefore would have been voted on however indirectly it may have been?

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Chester le Street depot land is being lined up for a supermarket. I'll not say which one but I know of one looking to build a store in the town. With the building next door that sold logs and fuel etc already gone I'd say something is being lined up for the site behind the scenes.

(10 Jul 2022, 10:46 pm)Washingtonian wrote I have a sneaking suspicion that the Chester le Street depot land is being lined up for a supermarket. I'll not say which one but I know of one looking to build a store in the town. With the building next door that sold logs and fuel etc already gone I'd say something is being lined up for the site behind the scenes.

GNE will get more money if the land is sold to a housing developer than a supermarket developer


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(10 Jul 2022, 10:46 pm)Washingtonian wrote I have a sneaking suspicion that the Chester le Street depot land is being lined up for a supermarket. I'll not say which one but I know of one looking to build a store in the town. With the building next door that sold logs and fuel etc already gone I'd say something is being lined up for the site behind the scenes.

It's quite a lidl space for a supermarket

(11 Jul 2022, 7:09 am)cbma06 wrote GNE will get more money if the land is sold to a housing developer than a supermarket developer


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Not sure a housing developer would want it. It's an awkward triangle plot to be jamming houses on. 

Its ideal for a supermarket or fast food chain being so close to the A1(M) and there's nothing else around there closest places are Stanley, Washington or Team Valley.

(11 Jul 2022, 9:52 am)Storx wrote Not sure a housing developer would want it. It's an awkward triangle plot to be jamming houses on. 

Its ideal for a supermarket or fast food chain being so close to the A1(M) and there's nothing else around there closest places are Stanley, Washington or Team Valley.

There'd probably be some traffic management concerns from a supermarket/fast food place - there's also Arnison that isn't that far away from the site

The land doesn't just have GNE on it either os it would depend on other lease owners contracts etc etc

(11 Jul 2022, 9:52 am)Storx wrote Not sure a housing developer would want it. It's an awkward triangle plot to be jamming houses on. 

Its ideal for a supermarket or fast food chain being so close to the A1(M) and there's nothing else around there closest places are Stanley, Washington or Team Valley.

I don't know. Did you see the state of that plot by the roundabout at pity me? Tiny plot and steep bank, yet they still crammed rather a lot of rather expensive for what they are houses onto it.

(11 Jul 2022, 9:24 am)Andreos1 wrote It's quite a lidl space for a supermarket

Badum tss!

Yeah you seen to be thinking along along the same lines as me. It would be right over the road from their rivals too. Mind the Aldi sight isn't the biggest but they have a decent size store there.

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(11 Jul 2022, 9:52 am)Storx wrote Not sure a housing developer would want it. It's an awkward triangle plot to be jamming houses on. 

Its ideal for a supermarket or fast food chain being so close to the A1(M) and there's nothing else around there closest places are Stanley, Washington or Team Valley.

Yeah I reckon a supermarket or a McDonald's with a drive thru as they don't have one in the town

Lidl's current requirements are:

Unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and 100+ dedicated car parking spaces
1.5+ acres for standalone stores or up to 4 acres for mixed-use schemes

They currently have Chester Le Street on their recentley released North East requirement list but I know they rejected the old Civic Centre site.

https://www.lidl.co.uk/file-download/103...202022.pdf

(11 Jul 2022, 11:48 am)Ambassador wrote Lidl's current requirements are:

Unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and 100+ dedicated car parking spaces
1.5+ acres for standalone stores or up to 4 acres for mixed-use schemes

They currently have Chester Le Street on their recentley released North East requirement list but I know they rejected the old Civic Centre site.

https://www.lidl.co.uk/file-download/103...202022.pdf

Ah. Never realised they turned down the land where the civic was. That would have been a bigger site too. A store on "stilts" could be built on the depot site maybe, with part of the car park underneath.

(11 Jul 2022, 9:52 am)Storx wrote Not sure a housing developer would want it. It's an awkward triangle plot to be jamming houses on. 

Its ideal for a supermarket or fast food chain being so close to the A1(M) and there's nothing else around there closest places are Stanley, Washington or Team Valley.

There was an application to build 50 houses on the site back in 2010.
The problem with any future use of the site is the Chester le Street area development plan has identified Picktree Lane as an area with traffic problems during morning and afternoon peak times. I would therefore expect DCC to resist any application that would significantly increase the flow of traffic.

(11 Jul 2022, 9:52 am)Storx wrote Not sure a housing developer would want it. It's an awkward triangle plot to be jamming houses on. 

Its ideal for a supermarket or fast food chain being so close to the A1(M) and there's nothing else around there closest places are Stanley, Washington or Team Valley.

The size or shape wouldn't stop a developer. They'd normally have architects draw up a range of options and push for the one that makes them the most re-sale money, even if it's something like apartment style buildings.

(11 Jul 2022, 4:09 pm)Adrian wrote The size or shape wouldn't stop a developer. They'd normally have architects draw up a range of options and push for the one that makes them the most re-sale money, even if it's something like apartment style buildings.

It's what they did further along with the old people's home/sheltered housing.
Granted the angles are a little bigger, but they squeezed stuff in there.

Does anyone which depots the Chester routes are going too?

I've heard:

71 to Deptford
34 to Washington

also heard:

5/9/24/26 - all Washington

(21 Jul 2022, 7:34 pm)Michael wrote Does anyone which depots the Chester routes are going too?

I've heard:

71 to Deptford
34 to Washington

also heard:

5/9/24/26 - all Washington

I think you are hearing massively wrong.

71 Washington, 5/9/24/26 Deptford. 

Why on earth would you operate the 5/9/24/26 from Washington.

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Does anyone know when all Staff will be out of CLS? Or what will be the last routes to go?

(21 Jul 2022, 7:34 pm)Michael wrote Does anyone which depots the Chester routes are going too?

I've heard:

71 to Deptford
34 to Washington

also heard:

5/9/24/26 - all Washington

I think the 25/28/29 will be ran from Washington, so maybe someone getting confused with 24 and 26.

Thank you

No idea, its just what I've heard, did seem odd.

(21 Jul 2022, 7:40 pm)Michael wrote Thank you

No idea, its just what I've heard, did seem odd.

Will there be enough space for all these extra buses?

(21 Jul 2022, 7:46 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Will there be enough space for all these extra buses?

Riverside I think so.

I think some Washington services might be switching Depots, cos I can't imagine there being enough room, Washington already uses most of the street. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the 4 got moved to Depford.