People may be stranded by bus changes, mayor warns

Kim McGuinness says she is disappointed by proposals for the route between Peterlee and Middlesbrough

The North East Mayor has warned that proposed changes to a bus route could divide communities and leave residents stranded.

Arriva is carrying out a survey on the future of the X22 service between Peterlee and Middlesbrough. Options include keeping it as it is or revising it to connect to Newton Aycliffe and Darlington, but at the expense of the route's existing link to Stockton and North Tees Hospital.

Labour mayor Kim McGuinness has criticised the move, saying it forces residents to make "an unfair choice between two poor options".

Arriva said there were no plans for immediate changes and all feedback would be carefully considered.

McGuinness has written to Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Arriva UK Bus, as part of a plea for the operator to reconsider its proposals.

She said: "I am deeply disappointed that Arriva's engagement on the proposed changes to the X22 service forces residents into making an unfair choice between two poor options, rather than seeking to find a genuine solution that meets everyone's needs.

"This approach divides our communities and risks creating a bus service that can only ever work for some, while leaving others stranded."

Arriva said there are no changes planned "in the immediate future"

Passengers who rely on the X22 service to travel to the hospital and Teesside University criticised the "crazy" decision to choose between the two options, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Residents have said reinstating the service to Darlington and Newton Aycliffe would remove the direct link from Trimdon and Fishburn to Stockton, and no service along the route would stop outside North Tees Hospital.

An Arriva spokesperson said: "Our survey is part of an effort to gather our customers' views.

"We have no plans to change anything in the immediate future.

"All feedback will be carefully considered if any changes are made."