Barnard Castle Watercolour Signed Print - Ken Burton
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New easy-access bus service gets a warm welcome
Jul 31, 2002
COUNTY Councillor Jo Fergus was delighted to launch a new bus service – but disappointed there was no champagne to do it!“Maybe it’s just as well!” she joked. “But the service fulfils a vital need through the villages I represent, and I hope the service is well used.”
She said travelling to the hospital by public transport had been a marathon effort in the past.
The new five-times-a-day no 70 service starts from Galgate, Barnard Castle, at 8.45am, and runs at two-hourly intervals until 5.15pm, calling at Whorlton, Little Newsham, South Cleatlam, Staindrop, Ingleton and Summerhouse.
The service has a low floor and ramp to enable easier access for people with mobility problems.
Also attending Friday’s launch at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle were Ken Saxby and Geoff Moody of the RSVP voluntary drivers’ group.
Copies of the timetable are available from Barnard castle Tourist Information Centre or the county council public transport group (0191 383 3337)
Cockfield parish councillor, Peter Wood, who had criticised the lack of a bus service to the hospital from the Cockfield Cockfield, told the Mercury: “This is very good news for Teesdale, which will benefit both young and elderly in this area who do not have access to a car or other means of transport. Also I am delighted to see
that it is an easy access bus, which is desperately need in Teesdale, thus helping young mothers and those with mobility problems.
“Now this is in place, then a similar service is needed for the Cockfield area, covering villages such as Woodland, Copley, Butterknowle and Southside, who don’t have a direct service to Darlington at all.
With over 35% of residents in this area who do not own a car and rely on buses to travel to hospital and dentist, the no 12 Darlington service needs upgrading to include easy access buses; better time-tabling; and extend it to Woodland and the other villages in this part of Teesdale that are mentioned,” said Coun Wood.
“Cockfield Parish council is striving to make this happen by lobbying our county councillor, rural transport co-ordinator and Teesdale councillor."