My burning issue with the Aycliffe Towns was the 116 which they took over from Central Coaches after it failed to operate as a commercial service. The route was Heighington - Aycliffe Town Centre but before heading back to Heighington there was a circular journey round the town which I live on part of that route and it was frequently missed out especially on an afternoon with the driver often pulling up at the start point for the Heighington journey and sitting there until departure time.

Also around the time they lost the contract for service 7 from Spenny - Shildon I rode the service to Shildon at school time and upon arrival in Coundon there was some parents questioning why the bus hadn't turned up that morning and all the driver could say who the driver was.