Dear Resident,
I know residents have been concerned about the changes to bus services in Great Park, therefore I met with the Great Park Transport Advisory Board to discuss the issues with them.
There has been disappointment and frustration that the Q3 (which connected Great Park with Jesmond and the Quayside) was replaced by the X47 (to Kingston Park and the City Centre) as well as the 49 bus to the City Centre via Gosforth High Street. It is welcome that from the end of March, the X47 will be extended to cover more of Great Park. However, I appreciate that there are still no services to Gosforth High Street on evenings and Sundays and that this is a continued cause for concern.
The Transport Advisory Board have made changes they believe are necessary to ensure the future of the service. This has resulted in increased services for students and commuters at peak times, to Regent Centre and the city centre. I will continue to advocate for the services to be kept under review, and support calls for a reinstatement of evening and weekend services to Gosforth High Street when possible.
I also raised the concern that the Q3 was an electric bus and has been replaced by diesel buses. The board assured me that the new buses are the most environmentally friendly diesel buses available, however I maintain that rolling out electric buses must remain an objective for all involved.
I will continue to follow any developments on this issue closely.
