Re post on Stagecoach over the evening and Sunday 61 'taking on' Leven
On behalf of LVC Ltd can I say that I can see a great deal of common sense behind the December Stagecoach changes. I do not subscribe to the 'take on Leven Valley' approach. The appearance of more Leven services in the Stockton area was largely driven by attempting to keep options open for areas that could have been left 'busless'.

Our approach has largely been successful and though some changes will be inevitable Leven's approach has never been to undermine or 'cherry pick' the excellent efforts of Arriva and Stagecoach. We see ourselves as Public Transport SERVANTS rather than utterly commercial and try, not always successfully, to enhance rather than to conflict in provision of services in Cleveland.

Obviously additional services may detract from numbers using  Leven's routes and affect viability. That is part of life in public transport. I have dealt with that reasonably well over almost thirty years and though I am taking less and less daily control of matters plans are afoot on both vehicle and service fronts to continue, hopefully, enhancing public transport alongside (and occasionally underfoot) the two excellent major operators.

It is vital in this divisive and combative world to expect the best and try to keep a sense of good humour on the rare occasions that it does not happen.

Paul Thompson.