(22 Dec 2024, 9:40 pm)Storx wrote Nothing I'd imagine, the whole Birtley network needs redone though bar the 21 everything is subsidised so it's not like they don't have opportunities to actually try and do something which might actually make money and linking places where people want to go which isn't Kibblesworth or a housing estate. That big retail park and industrial estate immediately north from there, nahhhh. Stanley... nahhh send the buses to Chester Le Street on a horse shoe route instead...

The network is a complete mess around there as an understatement. If GNE cries that it might take some of their passengers then tough luck, they're always welcome to run the service...

It's where NECA or whatever they're called needs to step in as having a 3 different councils with different self interests is what's leading to the mess imo.

I agree, the entire network in Birtley is an utter shambles. 
The finger of blame can be pointed in the direction of GNE and Nexus. 

However, there must be some sort of economic benefit to the existing network. 
Doris gets the bus down from Portmeads in to Birtley. She can't walk it, so uses her twirly. 
She collects her pension from the Post Office and buys Mavis (the next door neighbour) a birthday card.
Pops across the road to Greggs, buys some bread and a little treat for later.

Then does some shopping in Morrisons (not too much, cos she can't carry what she used to) and then collects a few slices of bacon from the butchers because she prefers it to Morrisons bacon.
4 businesses directly benefit from the bus. 2 small independent and 2 bigger chains. 

The next time she goes down, she bumps in to Mavis and they have a cup of tea in the cafe, before Mavis goes to get her hair set. 
Doris needs to pop to the town, so jumps on the 21.
Coming back, with her stuff from Newcastle, she sees the 25. Wouldn't normally use it, but it saves waiting in Birtley for a bus back up the hill. 

I'm not saying these businesses or the main network wouldn't last without the TB14 or whatever, but there's clearly an impact to withdrawing them.