MORE than 70 bus services could be stopped or reduced as a result of council plans to slash subsidies, it emerged last night.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday how Durham County Council chiefs want to cut all funding for Sunday services and make “major economies” on evening routes.

County Hall has released a list of the proposed changes, covering more than 70 services serving mainly rural areas.

Arriva, which runs 20, said it was extremely likely it would be unable to continue the services without subsidy; while Go North East, which operates 19, said it may be able to replace only “a small proportion”

of the journeys cut.

Councillor John Shuttleworth, who represents Weardale, said: “These are crazy cuts. They’re hitting rural villages, where older people can’t easily access services without a bus.”

David Sidebottom, from consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: “We recognise very difficult decisions have to be made, but we would urge the council to monitor the impact of their decisions.”

The council, which has to save £114.6m by 2015 and plans to axe 1,600 jobs, is trying to cut £1.3m from its buses budget, which is currently £4.5m.

Neil Foster, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “We are seeking to maintain our support for daytime services, continue to offer more limited subsidy to certain key evening services and withdraw our financial support for Sunday services altogether.”

John Fozzard, marketing manager for Arriva, which runs a total of 50 bus services in County Durham, said: “If funding is cut, there is an extreme likelihood we would be unable to run those [subsidised] services.”

Martin Harris, commercial director of Go North East, which carries 12.5 million passengers per year in County Durham, said: “In the main we won’t be able to replace any of the subsidised services.”

Transport chiefs stress commercially- run services will continue and hence a relatively low number of passengers would be affected.

The council will take final decisions in mid-February, with the cuts due to start on Sunday, April 17.

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL’S PROPOSED CHANGES TO SUBSIDISED BUS SERVICES

ARRIVA

1B Crook – Darlington Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Monday to Saturday

2B/C Bishop Auckland – Ferryhill Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

5A/90 Darlington – Bishop Auckland and Bishop Auckland – Woodhouse Close Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services, plus other changes

8 Bishop Auckland – Cockfield Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

8/95/96 Cockfield – Barnard Castle – Middleton-in-Teesdale Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

18/86A/109 Bishop Auckland - Willington – Tudhoe/Toft Hill/Oakenshaw Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services, reduce Mon to Sat evening services

21 Darlington – Sunderland Withdraw subsidies for Sunday sevices, reduce Mon to Sat evening services

22 Durham – Hartlepool Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and late Mon to Sat evening services

24A Durham – Hartlepool Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services, plus other changes

26 Peterlee – Trimdon Station Withdraw all subsidies

33 Chilton – Hartlepool Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

48A/49/50 Durham – New Brancepeth - Brandon/Durham - Brandon Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

55A Durham – Sedgefield Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and Cassop to Sedgefield section after 8pm Mon to Sat

56 Ferryhill – Durham Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

57A Durham – Kelloe Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services, plus diversions

60A Durham – Sherburn Village Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

75 Darlington – Barnard Castle (and local Darlington 26) Withdraw subsidies on Sundays and after 8pm Mon to Sat

88 Bishop Auckland – Barnard Castle Withdraw some subsidies

239 Sedgefield – Easington Village Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and revisions after 8pm Mon to Sat

X1 Durham – Middlesbrough Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

SB TRAVEL

1B Tow Law – Crook Withdraw subsidies on Sundays and after 8pm Mon to Sat

59 Durham – Newton Hall Withdraw subsidies for some journeys

JSB

7 Shildon – Spennymoor Withdraw subsidies for Saturday services

80/81/89 Bishop Auckland – McCullagh Gardens/Gurney Valley/Etherley Dene Withdraw subsidies for Saturday services

GO NORTH EAST

8A Chester-le-Street – Stanley - Consett Withdraw subsidies on Sundays and after 8pm Mon to Sat 14 Langley Park – Durham Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

15/v9 Consett – Durham/Chopwell Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and some Saturday services

28 Chester-le-Street – Newcastle Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services, plus Saturday changes

34A/8 Chester-le-Street – Ouston/Washington Withdraw some subsidies

35 Houghton-le-Spring – Peterlee Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services. Mon to Sat evening changes

43/44 Durham – Newcastle Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

60 Seaham – Parkside Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

65 Durham – Seaham Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

70 Consett – Newcastle Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

71 Chester-le-Street – Houghton-le-Spring Withdraw subsidies on Sundays and after 8pm Mon to Sat

78A Consett – Sunderland Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services, plus other changes

130/704 Stanley – Lanchester/South Stanley Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

202 Peterlee – Murton – Dalton Park – Sunderland Withdraw subsidies on Sundays and after 8pm Mon to Sat

206 Peterlee – Station Town – Hutton Henry Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

211 Peterlee – Wingate – Middlesbrough Withdraw all subsidies

935/937 Chester-le-Street – Team Valley Review timetable

v1/v2/v5/v8 Consett local services, Consett – Medomsley Withdraw subsidies on Sundays. Reduce after 8pm Mon to Sat

X25 Langley Park – Gateshead Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Mon to Sat

SCARLET BAND

25 Spennymoor – Peterlee Withdraw all subsidies

47/A New Brancepeth – Ushaw Moor Review timetable 58 Durham – Coxhoe – Spennymoor Withdraw all subsidies

104 Newfield – Bishop Auckland Withdraw all subsidies 879 Woodham golf club – Newton Aycliffe schools Review timetable

969 Wingate – Spennymoor Review service

VEOLIA

40/40A Durham rail station/coach park – Durham Cathedral

Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services

COMPASS ROYSTON

70 Barnard Castle – Darlington Withdraw all subsidies

CENTRAL COACHES

71/88A Barnard Castle town services Withdraw some subsidies

ALSTON ROAD

73 Langdon Beck – Barnard Castle Withdraw all subsidies

HODGSON’S

78A Eppleby – Barnard Castle Withdraw all subsidies

EDEN

83 Woodland – Cockfield Withdraw some subsidies

AABAT

88 Crook – Witton-le-Wear Withdraw some subsidies

118 Newfield – Bishop Auckland Withdraw some subsidies

975 Crook – Spennymoor Review timetable

MAURICE'S

213 Fishburn – Brakenhill Review usage

213/214 Brakenhill taxibus Reduce net cost

214 Easington Lane – Brakenhill Review usage/reduce net cost

STANLEY TRAVEL

715 Stanley – Tanfield Withdraw all subsidies

WEARDALE MOTOR SERVICES

101 Bishop Auckland – Cowshill Withdraw subsidies for Sunday services and after 8pm Monday to Saturday

103 Stanhope local service Withdraw all subsidies 764/773 Consett – Wolsingham/Townfield Withdraw some subsidies

CLASSIC

810-813/876 Chester-le-Street local services Withdraw subsidies to 811, 812, 813 on Saturdays

870 Consett - Hexham Potentially withdraw all subsidies

BELL BROS

878 Woodham golf club – Newton Aycliffe schools Withdraw all subsidies, look for alternatives

DURHAM CITY COACHES

896 New Shildon – Shildon Primary School Withdraw all subsidies

945 Ushaw Moor – Spennymoor Review service

DC TAXIS

900 South Derwentside Taxibus Review timetable

FERRYHILL VILLAGE TRAVEL

952 Trimdon Colliery – Stillington Darchem Reduce net cost