PROPOSED cuts to bus subsidies are set to be scaled back by senior York councillors to ensure some key services continue to run after all.

City of York Council's executive says that following a public consultation - to which more than 1,000 people responded - it is seeking to mitigate some cuts in response to passengers' concerns.

Councillors decided in February to save £350,000 from the authority's subsidy for evening and weekend services because of increased financial pressures.

The authority proposed to withdraw support completely from the orbital service 20, which circles the city from Acomb to Monks Cross to the university in Heslington.

York Bus Forum campaigned against the cuts, and said it had its own plans for route 20, which it thought had the potential to become a commercial service.

Forum coordinator Ron Healey said it would be 'premature and a folly' to allow the service to be axed.

After the consultation, the executive is now looking next Thursday to approve ‘Option B’ in an officer's report, which it says will retain key subsidies to support evening services and the most popular part of the Number 20 route linking Rawcliffe, Clifton Moor, Haxby, Huntington and Monks Cross.

Cllr Ian Gillies, Tory executive member for transport and planning, said 80 per cent of York bus services were not subsidised.

"Patterns in bus usage are changing and although we have listened closely to residents’ concerns, the reality is that we must face the fact that the council will not be able to sustain every subsidy on every underused route," he said.

"We have been looking at all options when seeking to make these very difficult decisions and we have welcomed the input of all of the residents who have participated in the consultation process.”

Lib Dem spokesperson Cllr Ann Reid said the executive had listened to feedback and would be safeguarding 'crucial' services.

"The proposals will retain a subsidy for key evening services, an amended number 20 service alongside a new service linking Derwenthorpe, Foss Islands and Fulford," she said. "Finances are tight, but we feel these changes represent a good overall package for residents.”