Unfair criticism (From York Press)

Unfair criticism

10:28am Monday 1st October 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

Micklegate ward resident Mr Horner criticised us recently before establishing the fact that we too are opposed to First cutting out the Number 11 South Bank loop, for exactly the reasons he outlined (Letters, August 23).

In fact the council made strong representations against this and other planned changes. However, bus deregulation allows commercial operators to change a service by simply giving notice to the Government’s Traffic Commissioners, and First registered this change despite the council’s representations.

We are continuing to make representations to First, and have leafleted residents to ask for their support in opposing First’s Number 11 changes, including supporting the petition to this effect in various local shops.

We have also asked the council to look at what can be done to improve journey reliability to allow the loop to be kept, and also what can be done to alter the other socially necessary (council subsidised) bus services it currently supports (such as the Number 21 that services South Bank), to provide an alternative.

As to representing different parts of the ward, all of us live locally and respond to issues whatever part of the ward they come from.

Councillors Sandy Fraser , Julie Gunnell and Dave Merrett , Micklegate Ward Councillors.