Dear Sir,
While the public are waiting for replies from Arriva, there is an alternative that can be used to get from different parts of Newton Aycliffe to and from Tesco’s and Aldi, providing a door to door bus service.
Durham County Council provide a Minibus Service called Link 2. Instead of standing at a Bus Stop following a set route, it can come to you and take you up to 5 miles from your house.
Link 2 can be contacted on 0191 383 5 383, the same number as Hospital Transport but you just select the right option. The booking line is open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. You can book up to 14 days ahead of when you want to travel or at least an hour before you want to travel providing they are available then. Bookings are on a first come first served basis.
The Link 2 service is available Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm.  Although it runs like a Taxi it is a Bus Service and charges fares. Those who have Bus Passes can use them in the normal way.
Although one has to qualify to use the service it is not just for Disabled. It can be used for shopping if there is no bus stop within 600m / about ten minutes walk, no bus within one hour of when you want to travel or if the journey requires a change of bus.
A passenger only has to meet one of these requirements.
The last one would apply to people living in one part of Newton Aycliffe and could not get a bus direct to say Tesco or Aldi etc.  Although this is a County wide service with a number of buses the normal range per trip is up to 5 miles.
Shoppers, whatever your age or if disabled can use this service, it’s open to everyone who meets the above requirements. Groups of people may wish to get together and arrange to use the service together.
“Helping Hand.”