(18 Aug 2021, 6:45 pm)Malarkey wrote The resident in the article does have a point above losing a direct service to the Roseberry Primary School however she could walk 9 Minutes to the stop on Burnthouse Bank as I am assuming they live on Glenside Terrace Estate given there is no other housing on Pelton Fell, she could then get the 703 to the School at 08:20 and be at the School at 08:23.
I would say the 703 is a good candidate to replace the 28/28A between Chester-Le-Street and Newfied but I would say route amendment would be needed so rather than it going up Burnthouse Bank and doing an Anti-Clockwise loop of Bernard Terrace, Church Road and North View before heading back to Chester. I would have it do a Clockwise Loop of Glenside Terrace Estate, Grange Villa (Pelton Lane) up to Newfield for the School and then Church Road, Bernard Terrace to Burnhouse Bank which would mean ommiting Church Road as a solution for this residents complaint whilst also increasing frequency to Every 30 Minutes given the 703 runs Hourly.
Or alternatively as Go North East feel the 28/28A is unviable in their current form then replace them by extending Service 82 from Birtley to Chester-Le-Street via Beamish opening up some new local links whilst also merging it with a more sustainable service whilst maintaining existing frequency and links for the local residents.
How many people know about the 703 though? And how long would she have to wait at the school to make the return journey? I'm presuming around 50-55 minutes allowing for 5-10 minutes to see her children through the school doors safely.