Anger at tendering process may end in court

Jun 24 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

A VILLAGE bus operator is considering a legal challenge to the North’s biggest local authority after controversially missing out on a flagship park-and-ride contract.

Scarlet Band failed to secure the contract to continue to run the Durham City park-and-ride service, with Durham County Council last week agreeing to hand a five-year deal to another company, Arriva.

But Graeme Torrance, owner of Scarlet Band, based in West Cornforth, near Ferryhill – whose company has run the park-and-ride since it opened in 2005 – said yesterday: “We continue to be disappointed with the decision. We are currently reviewing our options which could well include a legal challenge.

“This decision is unpopular with the council taxpayers. Our record was not taken into account and the taxpayers will be paying more for a worse service.”

Mr Torrance said he had been “overwhelmed” by public support since the county council chose Arriva as its “preferred bidder”.

The park-and-ride service was launched in December 2005 to reduce traffic congestion in Durham City Centre. Motorists park at one of three out of town car parks and catch a bus into the city centre.

Scarlet Band buses and drivers have ferried an estimated three million passengers since its launch, to widespread public acclaim. Last year a total of 890,000 passengers used the service.

The council’s own minutes reported that “Correspondence from many satisfied passengers have included praise for the high quality and friendly service provided by both the bus drivers and site management personnel in particular.”