Campus bus cut worry (From York Press)

Campus bus cut worry

11:29am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

I AM concerned about First’s decision to withdraw the No 4 bus service to the University of York ’s Heslington East campus.

The No 4 connects some of the city’s most deprived areas to one of its growth hot spots. We are blessed with low unemployment in York. But that is surely in part because we have good connectivity for a city of our size?

Likewise, I can see little benefit to the city, when its second-largest employer is suddenly harder pressed to shuttle its members and employees between sites.

Nearly 1,500 people live on Heslington East, many with quite a high disposable income.

How does the city benefit from their journey to town being complicated? Or from the increased difficulty for those who want to visit the Sports Village?

First has cancelled fares between Heslington West and Heslington East for the past two years in an attempt to choke the university-subsidised 44 off the roads.

I feel that if First does not change its mind, then the municipality should consider subsidising an alternative operator to run First off what is the most heavily used route in the city.

Josh Allen, Blakeney Place, York.