Club blames changed bus timetable for £1,000 a week losses

6:36pm Thursday 11th September 2008

By Lauren Pyrah

ONE of Darlington’s oldest working men’s clubs claims it is losing up to £1,000 a week because of changes to the bus timetable.

Harrowgate Hill Working Men’s Club claims takings have gone down because changes to bus services have made it so difficult for members to get there and back.

But Arriva, who have recently agreed to increase services to the north side of town after an 800-name permission against bus cuts, say routes were initially changed to give customers a more reliable service.

However, the club says the reduction in evening services to Harrowgate Hill has meant many pensioners have been put off attending the club as they are fearful of getting attacked while waiting for their bus or walking home at night.

Dave Cartwright, club treasurer, said the club was losing up to 120 visits from members a week.

“A lot of our members are not just from Harrowgate Hill, they are from all over the town. There are quite a lot from the Whinfield, haughton and Springfield areas.

“Now, older members don’t appear to be coming in the club because they are frightened of being mugged or attacked in the street if they are waiting for a bus or walk home.”

He added that the club would have to start putting on other functions to recoup the loss.

“The Government has been trying to get people out of their cars. It seems Arriva are to get them back in their cars.”

Tom Stebbings, chairman of Darlington Mencap Society, which runs the Gateway Club, which is next door to the working men’s club and caters for people with learning difficulties, said they had also noticed a downturn in visits.

He said their members, some of who can get to the club independently, had struggled to understand the changes.

“They have found it impossible to the club without paying for taxis. A vulnerable group within Darlington has been disadvantaged by changes which have been poorly thought out,” he said.

John Fozzard, marketing manager for Arriva, said the changes had been made after months of research and in partnership with Darlington Borough Council. He said Harrowgate hill had not been cut off.

“The changes mean the services are more reliable, more punctual and more effective for people in Darlington.”