THE ex-Lord Mayor, Cllr Ian Gillies reports (The Press, June 8) that “bus user figures are at their highest” and we are told that Big Changes On The Way For York’s Bus Service (The Press, June 15).

One of the changes from August 2 is the withdrawal of 13A Haxby to Acomb via The Hollybank Loop.

This service at the present time is hourly, starting at 08.30 and finishing at 15.57 from Acomb and starting at 08.10 and finishing at 15.55 from Haxby.

This gets people to work but not home from work, good planning.

Passengers from either end can use alternative services but passengers on The Hollybank Loop will be stranded, facing a walk to either The Fox or Holgate Hill to catch a bus, a long way if you are a senior citizen and live at the far end of Hollybank.

At the same time we see an increase in services on other routes and we will see certain services where buses are following each other, sometimes overtaking each other or even waiting for a while at stops to get back on time.

Never mind we, on The Loop, can always revert back to our cars.

So much for the council’s policy to reduce congestion, reduce pollution and get people onto public transport.

AP Cox, Heath Close, Holgate, York

 

ON November 24, 2014, I wrote to First Bus Company, highlighting to them that all the major access routes into York are covered by First York Bus services, one exception being Wetherby Road, Knapton and Rufforth.

Wetherby Road has no bus service. Bus stops, yes, but buses, no. Why?

First Bus Company replied – dated December 12, 2014 – stating the earliest this can be looked at will be April 2015 and they would look at diverting the number 5A service along Wetherby Road.

They assured me that this would be looked at.

As we are now into June 2015 I have written to First indicating nothing has changed in terms of bus services and it would appear First have also done nothing to address the situation.

DW Game, Wetherby Road, York

 

THE recent feature on changes to some bus services operated by First (The Press, June 15) referred to the cancellation of the 13/13A and went on to mention that a replacement service would be operated by Connexions (Harrogate Coach Travel).

This sounds reassuring but it only refers to the 13 route between Haxby and Copmanthorpe.

Residents of the Holly Bank and Hamilton Drive areas currently served by the 13A should note that no replacement for the 13A has been announced as yet, and might like to consider making their voices heard.

The First website suggests using Dial & Ride as an alternative but, excellent though this service is for those who require it, it is no replacement for an ordinary bus service.

FJ Lambert, Stones Close, Holgate, York