North East thread 7: the bus chat continues...

[Someaddedsugar]

Just setting this up so it's here

Co Durham is getting a pot of money for bus stop improvement but that was announced separately, a few weeks back.

The bus services bill which is onto its second reading in the commons is good news for the smaller villages, avoiding situations like when arriva all but withdrew it's services from the Trimdons.

And yes, buses that turn up and don't break down would be great. We've just got back from Tundale crescent and passed a broken down X21 in Binchester. It was one of the clapped out vehicles that is only supposed to be used for contracts, of course.

Ah I heard about bus stop money. I do wish all stop shelters had seating. But I know lots a complaints about teenagers hanging around if they have seating.
I’m not feeling optimistic because for the last 30 years all of our buses have gotten worst. But looking forward to being proved wrong.

Anyone going to try the new place from Coarse? Called ‘Deli by Coarse’ looks delicious. Next door to Coarse.
They are trying to do up North Road by themselves.

I’ve not been in yet, but the food sounds lovely.

I was in Isla at the weekend and the staff mentioned the deli had started off well, so fingers crossed for them!

I often go into Isla for just a coffee takeaway, if busy. But if quiet I sit in. Between them and Collected, I don’t miss Starbucks.
I have a cappuccino habit 😱.
Must try the deli on Saturday when I go to town( to collect my book from Collected)

I live in the City Centre and often grab a takeaway coffee from Isla.

I think the cakes in Collected might be from Isla (at least they often have the same ones - the lemon and pistachio cake is delicious).

Has anyone been to an author event at Collected? They have some interesting events advertised.

I have. Won’t say which one. lol. But it was really good. Definitely going to another.

Anyone going to Big Meeting (Gala) tomorrow? I won’t be again, especially because of some speakers.

Ooh, see what you mean. At least one of the speakers is rather divisive.

Still pleased that they declined to invite certain of our county councillors, though.

I will admit I didn’t know they invited local councillors. My old local councillors were Labour and they weren’t invited. They just went with the banner.
And they never invited Kevan Jones to my knowledge. I know Mary Foy always goes. God only knows what the new labour MP for my village does.
Their will be some bad heads tomorrow, hope domestic violence doesn’t go up.

The councillor thing was mostly Darren Grimey shit stirring. The DMA made it clear that they have incompatible values.

I follow Darren Grimes. You can tell he’s media savvy, he’s definitely playing to his core vote. I mean he was never getting a special invitation was he. 😆
The only person I think should have been invited was Tony Blair. Did he ever go?
I follow left and right on SM and hope to get a more balanced view that way.
But people need to bloody vote! An election based on less than 40% is disgraceful

Yes, he knows which buttons to push.

And, if you look at item 13 here, he's pushing them quite enthusiastically, particularly when it comes to wanting to abide by the ECHR when it suits them.

Agenda for County Council on Wednesday 16 July 2025, 10.00 am - Durham County Council share.google/RgO8LJEN1CG0Yf07Y

@PickAChew you’re really good at finding proper information. I only go on County Durham to report my bin not emptied, request salt for salt bins and check road closures 🫣

Talking of road closures, we’ve got a week off the ones by the hospital. They’ve been horrendous.

I can’t work out why it going to take so long? Or exactly what they are doing. But if they put the bus stop (off road bit) at hospital stop that will be slightly better.

And the change to the hospital car park. We were there a couple of weeks ago and had to park at park and ride as no spaces and I didn’t have any cash for that other car park. Won’t make that mistake again.

I went there for a boob squash, a few months back and was lathered by the time I got there because I hadn't realised you couldn't cut through, with the building work going on.

Yvette Cooper was in Durham city on Monday. Pictures don’t show her visiting North Road or the Bus station. I went to Durham on Monday but I missed her. 😂
They really should have taken her to the bus station, the smell is just delightful and the clientele there are no words. 🫣

Christ, can you imagine if she’d been exposed to that 🫢

me and my kids were in the marketplace not long ago and mixed in with tourists and students were a group of individuals off their faces on what I suspect was spice. They were draped all around the Marquis of Londonderry statue moaning and groaning two of them had actually passed out.

Wonder what Yvette would have made of that…….

From the photos I think the undesirables had been moved on. 😂
You’re not supposed to drink or do drugs in Durham city(on the street)the posters say so 🫣. Not that they are reading the signs. Someone was saying they are moving up to market place.
There isn’t enough air freshener in world for the bus station. I feel sorry for the traders on North Road having to pay for Durham Bid and getting nothing for it.

Forgot to say I do have empathy but they won’t engage to help themselves. I don’t know what the answer is.

Yes, the coppers - yes there were actual police there to deal with them, tbh that shocked me more than the scene unfolding before my eyes - were saying this was becoming more of a problem in the marketplace.
i don’t know what the answer is either. There are an increasing number of individuals who clearly need a lot of help.

Anyone noticed how low the Wear is, BTW? There wasn't much of it at all, yesterday.

I know the Wear at Durham is very green! Once it starts raining especially the winter hopefully it will be better!
Rained last night.