Cottier Grange – Bus service option.

In 2017 when I was was first elected I realised that I inherited a planning approval for the old hospital site.

Some of the approval has transpired to be very challenging and time consuming.

Non of the team involved in the application are working at NCC now, and records are large.

Of course it is a wonderful place to live.

In all larger planning applications there will be agreements between the planning authority and developers on such matters as improving road safety close by, play and recreation, School and medical support. etc

Contributions follow a formula and are agreed around the time that planning approval is given.

There are rare occasions that large estates get built and agreements are not challenged.

There can be numerous agreements, dependant upon the local circumstances.

They usually have a trigger for the agreements to be carried out, this may be after a certain number of properties are built / inhabited.

To view the planning approval CLICK HERE

BUS SERVICE FOR COTTIER GRANGE

Within the planning approval there is mention of a bus service, but no financial contribution from the developer was agreed.

I recently asked for an update from NCC officers regarding the provision and I have copied some of the content from their reply below.

I’m afraid we haven’t been able to make much progress in respect of providing a bus service to Cottier Grange.

Go North East (GNE) services 10 and 10B pass the ‘Cottier Grange’ bus stops on the B6395, which are a five-minute walk from the front of the estate and an 18-20 minute walk from the back of the estate on Moor Road.

GNE runs these services on a wholly commercial basis, and it’s unlikely they’d be able to divert into the Cottier Grange estate without significant long-term financial support.

This is because the length of the diversion means they would have to put an extra bus into their fleet.

The cost of this would be around £XXX,xxx. (Commercially sensitive) per year and it’s unlikely that revenue from customers at Cottier Grange would get anywhere near this.

I’ve asked GNE for their thoughts, (A new team are now in post)

We also subsidise Prudhoe local service 686, which runs hourly during Monday to Saturday daytimes. However, this would be in a similar situation to the 10/10B in respect of requiring additional resources and long-term financial support.

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I invite Cottier Grange & Humbles wood residents as well as Ferndene staff (or others interested in using such a service) to e mail your views on this so I can collate views and feed back to the relevant parties. gordon.stewart@northumberland.gov.uk

Points for consideration –

Will you and your household use such a service if it was provided, how often ?

Where in Cottier grange would you think it should travel, stop and turn ?

Are you against this idea ?

(Your ID will not be disclosed)

** Note – There will not be vehicular access from CG to HW or Ferndene but pedestrian access will be created when the construction work permits.

There may be more formal consultation in the future if there is interest from GNE, but this user discussion would be helpful for consideration.

Thanks

Gordon