(23 Feb 2024, 9:36 pm)RobinHood wrote £389,658 reasons that nobody knows why, to be precise.
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/N...rchResults&p=1
Taking the existing network shortfalls aside in East Cleveland (you could have a whole other discussion on how everything could be achieved by working with the existing commercial network at a fraction of the cost), the fact TVCA tendered this service, over the top of their own subsidised TeesFlex service shows a significant lack of understanding and incompetence in the public office! They are competing for the same passengers that probably underpinned each individual business case to start with.
TVCA are also about to waste another £200k on a service to Riverside Park in Middlesbrough.
How many times has that been tried, financially supported by MBC and then that support terminated as it simply isn't VFM, even for the public purse? It's like groundhog day, the same solutions churned out, by out of touch politicians, to fix problems that don't exist. A public feedback event or survey etc. would produce much better information on what gaps in the public transport network need to be considered in order of priority. I doubt Riverside Park is high up any list.
Plus, on top of that, another £396k on a fully subsided service to Wynyard for Amazon. Should that not be Amazon funded? Maybe even commercially provided for given the clear shift pattern demand?
All in all, £1 million of wasted money just in this post alone. Really scary stuff when you put it into context. Incompetent to the highest degree.
If I was Stagecoach, I'd be happily taking all of this non-risk guaranteed income from these clueless idiots. Fair play to them, but equally commiserations to Tees Valley residents having decisions on their money made without any input allowed on what they want, need or would like.
The bus service improvements have been minuscule despite Lord alleged Dodgy Ben of Yarm . He’s had power since 2017 but as a Tory he’s desperate to leave it to the barely existent commercial market. I know people slate Nexus in T&W, but there’s nothing in Teesside apart from some non entity called Connect Tees (?).