Local News

Anna Turley, Labour candidate for Redcar, has called on visiting Coalition Transport Minister, Susan Kramer, to "take time out of her schedule to look more deeply at the dire bus service in Redcar and Cleveland."

Labour’s plans will see social housing tenants only lose a portion their benefit if they are offered a suitable smaller home and turn it down. Reforms would also permanently exempt disabled adults from being affected by the subsidy.

Lady Kramer, a Liberal Democrat Transport Minister, is due to visit PD ports at Teesport and the newly opened James Cook Hospital rail station in Park End today.

Mrs Turley said: “Rather than take part in a stage managed procession, Lady Kramer should junk her schedule and should take time out to quiz people waiting at bus stops in Redcar about their experiences of local bus services run by monopoly provider, Arriva."

She added: "She will find absolute frustration from locals about service cuts, constantly changing routes and timetables, and in the Redcar constituency area, whole communities like New Marske and Dormanstown suffering from reductions in service frequencies on the core 64 route."

Lady Kramer's visit to the Teesside area will come as a surprise to many local residents due to the Coalition's lack of progress in improving public transport within the region. Figures in a recent report by IPPR North showed spending on public transport in London is nearly £2,600 per head, while in the North East it's just £5 per head.

Mrs Turley added: "Yesterday the Liberal Democrats announced a U-turn on their past support for the hated bedroom tax.  Today is the time for Susan Kramer to announce that her party will be supporting the re-regulation of local bus services in places like Teesside.

“An announcement like this is something that will give local residents the same certainty and confidence in bus services that Lady Kramer and her neighbours already enjoy in her home area of Richmond-on-Thames in London."