Calls have been made for bus operator Go North East to reverse the scrapping of the 97 bus service.
The 97 used to operate between the Metrocentre, Swalwell Estate, Fellside Park, Whickham, Lobley Hill, Bensham Bank, Gateshead and Newcastle. This has now been replaced with an extended number one bus route.
However, some residents and councillors are concerned by the altered route and fear delays are on the horizon. Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Ord has written Go North East asking the provider to reconsider its position.
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Coun Ord said: "I am concerned about the potential for ongoing delays to the service as the route the service 97 had taken has now been extended to the coast. The changes have now gone through with virtually no consultation with us as councillors or with residents.
"We are asking that once the issue of staff shortages has been resolved that the company looks at bringing back the 97 service."
In response, the business director of Go North East, Ben Maxfield said: “The recent changes to services 1 and 97 are now active. The extended service 1 to replace service 97 continues to operate up to every 20 minutes during the daytime on Mondays to Saturdays and every 30 minutes during the daytime on a Sunday.
"By merging the two routes, we have been able to reduce the number of our short-notice cancellations due to the current shortage of bus drivers. These cancellations were affecting service 97, but the extended service 1 has been unaffected, due to better availability of drivers at the depot which runs service 1.
"We are continuing to monitor traffic congestion and delays, and are working with local authorities to co-ordinate temporary traffic lights and other roadworks. Our Service Delivery Centre monitors the network and ensures that service 1 is running as reliably as possible."
The changes to the 97 service were brought into action on Sunday, March 26.
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