ALMOST a dozen bus services on Teesside are under threat after a small operator announced it was closing due to crippling insurance costs.
Leven Valley Coaches, which operates services in Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees, Billingham and Redcar and Cleveland announced it was ceasing to trade on March 20.
The Stockton-based company, owned by Compass Royston coach company, has been trading for 28 years and blamed tough economic conditions, lower-than-anticipated passenger numbers and the end of the last remaining public subsidies, as well as the rise in insurance costs.
Leven Valley runs services 18 and 19, the Middlesbrough circular; 45 Middlesbrough to Wolviston Court, Billingham; 455 and 456 Bankfields to Nunthorpe; 84 Stockton to Stillington; 492 Middlesbrough to Normanby Flatts Lane; H66 Hartburn to Teesside Park, and early morning Middlesbrough buses 605, 606 and 607. Connect Tees Valley is said to be looking at these services to see if other operators will take them over.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here