Park-and-ride

(Echo, June 12). That, surely, is the understatement of the year.

I have been told Arriva has 100 new buses, 12 of which have been allocated to Bishop Auckland depot for services 1, 5, and 46 and on the odd occasion (hip hurrah) on service 69.

However, should these be the type that replace Scarlet Band on the Durham City park-and-ride, if Arriva is confirmed as the new operator, you can bet your boots the number of runs will be curtailed (unless the contract is tied up tight) and the excuse will be: “Our buses are bigger”.

Scarlet Band runs a sterling service and deserves our total support. As for Arriva, I have a growing list of non-appearance of buses, breakdowns and often very late buses. Why don’t those in authority take heed?

Mark Ellis, Arriva North-East’s commercial manager, has done his best to address my concerns, but it is not enough. We need prompt and reliable services.

I feel like a present-day suffragette – rarely has anything got to me like this bus fiasco. If I thought it would do any good, I’d chain myself to County Hall.

However, I fear their minds are made up – they probably were long before this debacle became public.

Eva Stainsby, Ferryhill, Co Durham.

WHAT a surprise. I see from your report (Echo, June 12) that it looks as if Arriva is set to get the Durham City park-and-ride contract after all.

I thought Durham County Council would wait until the recent elections were over so as not to rock the boat, but I hope people will have long memories when the next elections come round.

It is typical of the Labour-run council. It never listens to the voters.

I am sick to death of them wasting public money and the only way to stop them is for the electorate to vote them out at the earliest possibility.

What I want to know is who is going to pay for the extra £24,000 Arriva will cost over the present operator, Scarlet Band?

Are the councillors going to pay for it out of their expenses? I don’t think so.

Christine Cook, Ferryhill, Co Durham.

I WOULD like to thank reporter Mark Tallentire for making people aware of Durham County Council officers’ backing for Arriva with regard to the Durham City park-and-ride contract (Echo, June 12).

They must surely be aware of the strength of public support for the present operator, Scarlet Band. After all, how do they hope to improve on perfection?

At the council’s cabinet meeting tomorrow members will study a report on the tendering process. Surely this proves the existing system is flawed.

At that cabinet meeting I would urge all councillors, of whatever political persuasion, to vote against the officers’ proposals.

Alderman Jim Higgin, Ferryhill, Co Durham.