(16 Jun 2014, 5:44 pm)marxistafozzski wrote I will only believe it when I see it being built, we have been told umpteen times phase 2 was going to start soon, I think originally it was supposed to start a year after the official opening in 2003
I got told, which is completely just on grapevine been from the area, that the phase 2 keeps getting delayed as the stores (Namely Morrisons) won't agree on the amount of land it has and keep pushing for extra space.
Also to help congestion I'd like to see the exit near McDonalds become open full time to allow buses/traffic to flow through, using two entrances/exits can surely help.
As Fozz says, DP can get very busy on Saturdays in particular. I do think maybe a service to Newcastle would help just to open connections up to Houghton, Newbottle, Shiney Row & Washingtkn maybe too.
I do think an X7 like service may help also. Maybe X8 Sunderland-Grangetown-New Seaham-Dalton Park-Peterlee. Stop points would be as per X7, with Seaham Byron Place & Dawdon Business Park replaced by New Seaham, Mill Inn & Murton, Dalton Park.
I do think strengthening point to point links from Seaham-Murton could help, two buses an hour on daytimes with no evening or Sunday service? I think having a bus like the old 65, maybe East Durham 203 Seaham-The Avenue-Dalton Park-Woods Terrace every 30 minutes (Therefore creating a bus every 15 minutes) could help extend links even from Seaham Train Station and service such as the X7 & 238 which don't serve DP.
Obviously I'm from the area but don't think these suggestions are that pie in the sky.
I think my Red Arrows idea from the other day could be good idea (PVR increase though):-
X1 Seaham, Houghton-Seaton-Station Road-Seaham
X1 Easington Lane, Houghton-Hetton-Easington Lane
X1 Dalton Park, Houghton-Hetton-Murton-Dalton Park
Each service/destination every 30 minutes. This alongside the 203 idea could therefore open up connections and give better potentially bus links.