CONCERNS have been raised about children having to cross a busy junction to get to school following a bus company's decision to longer serve one of its stops.

Arriva says is is no longer using the bus stop at the top of Neville's Cross Bank, in Durham, because of delays due in congestion in the area.

The 43, X46, 49 and 49A, which serve villages including Crook, Esh Winning, Tow Law, Stanhope, Brandon and Ushaw Moor, will no longer use the "Post Office" stop, next to Neville's Cross Primary School, on journeys into Durham.

It means passengers either have to get off at the bottom of the bank or at the other side of the crossroads between the A690 and A167.

Neville's Cross councillor Liz Brown said she was concerned about children who use the bus to get to school having to cross the busy A167, adding that older people might struggle as well.

She said: "I think it's a bit short sighted of Arriva when we're trying to get people out of cars and onto public transport to try and make the county carbon neutral by 2050.

The Northern Echo:

The bus stop in Neville's Cross is no longer used by Arriva services

"It can be an incredibly dangerous junction at rush hour.

"I'm also worried that it hasn't been advertised very well. I know there are families that put their child on the bus to get to school - it might be a nasty shock on Monday if the bus goes sailing by the stop."

Arriva said the decision had been made because of congestion in the area, which it said was causing delays to the services.

A spokesperson for the company said: "We recently, regrettably, had to make the decision to no longer serve one of the bus stops on Neville’s Cross due to delays to bus services as a result of congestion at this junction.

"We are in contact with Cllr Liz Brown and are currently reviewing alternative options to ensure that residents are able to conveniently access our services.”

The stop is still served by the X21, which is run by Weardale Motor Services and runs between Stanhope and Newcastle once on a Wednesday and three times on a Saturday.