Mayor Houchen and Darlington Labour criticise Arriva cuts

Several routes are due to be severely reduced or withdrawn completely on July 9, as the operator blames a lack of funding from local authorities for allowing it to continue serving communities. 

It said the decision is seen as a “very last resort” and has been taken following “exhaustive efforts”, after failing to reach a funding agreement with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA). 

It blamed the authority for a 28 per cent cut in funding for the English National Concessionary Fares Scheme (ENCTS) - a programme which provides revenue reimbursement for carriage of free bus travel for eligible people to ensure operators aren’t financially worse off.

But residents have spoken of their concern of never being able to leave their homes and being isolated in small villages throughout the region if buses are cut. 

Read more: Hurworth appeal to keep Arriva 12 bus service after cuts threat

Several services in County Durham are also affected by the changes but the local authority recently reached a deal with Arriva to save four routes. However, the operator is still at a deadlock with TVCA and the area’s local authorities. Darlington Council leader and Labour councillor Steve Harker said discussions are ongoing.

For now, political leaders say Arriva has betrayed the support from authorities through investment and the public during the Covid pandemic, which they say helped keep the operator running. 

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We supported Arriva through Covid, we continued to subsidise their services. It’s very sad to see Arriva haven’t repaid that partnership working, it's just all take take. A proposal was put forward to all the bus operators and they’ve all accepted except Arriva. I believe they are trying to hold the combined authority and all five local authorities to ransom because they want more money. 

“They’ve been offered many millions of pounds and they’ve refused that offer. They either accept the offer that’s on the table or services will go, or we give them more council tax and they protect the services. The only way of keeping these buses is by asking the local council to pay more money, and what I’ve seen is councils are hard pushed and services are stretched. The combined authority and local authorities have worked extremely hard to come to a resolution and we’ll continue work and see if one can be found, but there is no easy solution.”

Mayor Ben Houchen (left) and cllr Steve Harker (right) have both criticised Arriva (Image: TVCA)

Read more: Full list of cuts to bus services announced by Arriva

Some residents have called for Arriva to be stripped of its services but mayor Houchen and cllr Harker said it isn’t that simple, and the authorities no longer have responsibility over local bus procurement. 

He added: “What’s galling is that Arriva are relying on the fact the public believe it is down to local authorities to provide bus services. We are getting it in the neck but it isn’t actually our responsibility or even funding. They're just walking away and they’re leaving people suffering behind.”

And mayor Houchen admitted there isn’t an overnight fix for the issue, with Arriva also unlikely to relinquish responsibility. “We cannot go to an alternative bus operator,” he said. “We’re very restricted to what we can do. If we want to put these services on it has to come from council tax because there is no more money.”

While both say more government support and funding to help meet Arriva’s demands would help they refute any criticism of local authorities. 

“They’re playing a silly game. It’s disrespectful how Arriva have treated the councils and the support that local people have given them over the last couple of years, but when it’s convenient for them to pull services they chose to do so without batting an eyelid. 

“They’ve thrown it back in our faces. They’ve never once mentioned the fact that, in effect, we kept them in business. They’re not interested and there is no return from them in accepting that fact, they just want more taxpayers money, and that’s not on.”

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In response, Arriva said it hasn't refused an offer but says the proposed settlement doesn’t meet the statutory requirements for reimbursement. A spokesman added: “Of course, we appreciate the financial constraints that both authorities are working under, particularly amidst inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis. However, the reimbursement rates proposed will not continue to cover the costs of running a significant number of our services and has regrettably led to this decision.

“We know how important our bus network is to our customers and we would like to apologise for any disruption these alterations will cause.”