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Local minibus services in Whitley Bay are changing from 1 September to better match demand in different neighbourhoods. Nexus subsidises the ‘W’ network of minibuses providing regular links between the town centre and surrounding communities. It is making the changes to coincide with a new operator, Veolia Transport, winning the contract to run the minibuses, using low-floor accessible vehicles. Improvements include new peak-time journeys from Brierdene to Whitley Bay town centre, plus the Metro station being added to routes W1 and W2 for the first time. Routes W3 and W4 are also being merged as route W3 to give a regular hourly service between South Wellfield/Earsdon Grange, Sainburys, West Monkseaton Metro, Brantwood Avenue, Drumoyne Gardens, Bromley Avenue, Uplands estate, and Whitley Bay town centre and Metro station. The W7 rush hour link between Brierdene, Whitley Lodge and West Monkseaton Metro is being kept on, despite low passenger numbers, but its future is under review. As part of the changes services W1 and W2 will no longer run during evenings and Sundays between Earsdon Grange and Whitley Bay, as the service is very lightly used. John Usher, Head of Transport Integration for Nexus, said: “We are re-designing the minibus network to reflect local demand and reach more local people by making sure we’ve got services on the right routes at the right time. “The changes on 1 September will mean better peak time services and better connection to Metro during the day. “The W7 is not very well used but we have decided to keep it on for now – though the message to people along the route really is, ‘use it or you might lose it in the future.’ “All minibus services are subsidised by the taxpayer and we must ensure the money we spend is reflected to some extent by demand for each one as well as the social and economic needs it meets.” The changes take effect on or after 31 August 2008. Timetables can be found at www.nexus.org.uk and from the Nexus Travelshop in Whitley Bay and on board current services.
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