Reacting to the news that Leven Valley Bus Services will cease to operate from Friday, 20 March 2015, Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, said:
“I am extremely sorry to hear that another small bus company has run into financial difficulties and are ceasing services within the next two weeks.
“Apart from the loss of jobs, it is the rural communities of Carlton, Redmarshall, Whitton, Stillington and Thorpe Thewles – who already have a poor and restricted service – who will lose out most, with only Thorpe Thewles retaining one alternative bus once an hour.
“I am aware that Stockton Borough Council are already speaking to other bus operators to see if the gaps can be filled, and am due to speak to a senior manager there later this afternoon to ensure everything possible is being done.
“Sadly, in these days of huge cuts to local authority budgets, there is no longer the money to help subsidise services and so I hope the council will look at alternative ideas to provide some form of service particularly to the rural villages.”