AN ONLINE political slanging match has erupted as councillors continue to argue about cuts to bus services.

Recent changes to the Arriva routes in the north of Darlington have left two whole housing estates without a service. Residents have complained of long walks to their nearest bus stop after changes to the number 23 and 26 services.

Earlier this week, Conservative opposition councillors Mike and Gill Cartwright called for the Labour-led Darlington Borough Council to "put its hand in its pockets" to help bring back the routes.

But cabinet member Coun Nick Wallis hit back on his personal website, accusing the Cartwrights of courting publicity, and blasting the Tories for asking the council to subsidise a private business.

"Rushing in with local state subsidies would send a distinctly dubious message to the likes of Arriva", wrote Coun Wallis, the former cabinet member for transport, who is now the portfolio holder for the environment.

"By all means, Arriva, slash bus routes around the town on the basis that they're not commercial - the council will step in to replace them.

"We'd soon get the reputation of being a soft touch.

"Better by far to apply pressure on Arriva to reinstate these routes on a commercial basis, at nil cost to council tax payers.

"That's the approach which the Labour council and our local MP Alan Milburn have adopted.

"The Tories are fast becoming the party with apparently limitless cash to fund their pet projects. Traditional opposition tactics, to be sure, but not ones that in the long-run inspire confidence amongst the public."

Within hours, Coun Gill Cartwright had hit back, describing Coun Wallis as "naive" on her own website.

"It is a bit naive to even suggest that Arriva (commercial organisation) is going to put services into these areas out of the goodness of their hearts," she wrote.

"It is a bit funny to find a Labour councillor giving advice on how to inspire long-run confidence amongst the public given the current state of affairs with the country and the lack of confidence within the Labour Party in its leader.

"If you don't mind, I might just continue to do what I was elected to do and represent the people."

Coun Wallis's blog can be viewed at www.darlingtoncouncillor.blogspot.com, and Coun Cartwright's homepage is at www.harrowgatehillfuture.co.uk.