I think the big sticking point with the new routes & times will be the loss of connections from Killingworth to NT Hospital.
I think one of the 353/354 needs dropped from Cobalt and instead doing a loop down and back up Rake Lane.
Even better......GNE, Stagecoach, Arriva, Nexus and Northumberland CC sit down and assess all "local / secondary" routes to better utilise resources come the next tender process for next March. Could give a hell of a lot more stability too rather than the constant chopping, changing and cuts. A prime example was the merger of the Wallsend - Howdon section of the 41/41A and the former 11 into the new 317. That looks to be a pretty stable route now.
RE: Go North East September 2023 changes