28 June 2023 – Luke has welcomed an eleventh-hour deal to save a number of key Arriva bus services across Tees Valley after weeks of uncertainty and public anger over sweeping proposed cuts from Arriva and the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Arriva had announced plans to withdraw or reduce dozens of routes from 9 July, blaming a funding dispute with TVCA and the Conservative government over concessionary fares reimbursement.

Residents across East Cleveland warned they would be left isolated, while local leaders accused the operator of walking away from communities despite public support during the pandemic. Luke worked with local campaigners, organised a community petition, and spoke directly to Arriva to press for the protection of vital links for local villages.

Following two meetings between the five Labour leaders in the Tees Valley and the Tees Valley Mayor, at which they urged him to intervene to minimise the impact on residents, a compromise has now been struck.

Ten Arriva routes will be supported, including parts of the X3/X3A/3 network serving Middlesbrough, Redcar and East Cleveland. In addition, a new Stagecoach number 1 and 2 service has been approved by the Traffic Commissioner, providing further capacity where communities would otherwise have lost out.

Luke said the episode shows how fragile local bus provision has become and underlines the need for more reliable, accountable public transport arrangements in Tees Valley so that communities are not left caught between operators and authorities in future disputes. Long-term, he supports bringing buses into public ownership to run them for passengers, not just profit.