A NEW bus company could take over York’s Park&Ride service from next year, and council bosses say they want to make sure harmful emissions are kept low on the ever-growing services.

The city council has opened the service up to tender bids as it looks for a company to run the service from 2017.

And after a row over stops in Fulford Road and Fishergate, a senior councillor has revealed the new services will keep a direct service to the railway station.

Cllr Keith Aspden, the Lib Dem member for Fulford and Heslington, said: “I am pleased the new contract will ensure that residents in the Fulford Road area will still be able to benefit from local bus services. It will stipulate that either the Park & Ride bus continues to stop as currently along Fulford Road or that an alternative service through to the railway station will be provided. This will help to make sure residents can continue to access the services they need.”

The Park&Ride services first started in the 1970s and now cater for more than four million passengers a year.

The council’s transport boss Cllr Ian Gillies said it was one of the most successful services in the country. He added: “Our ambition is to work with the new operator to expand on this offer by introducing more ultra low emission buses on our routes, continue to offer frequent and low-cost services and help to reduce congestion in the city centre in addition to other improvements to the service.”

The ultra low emission promises have been welcomed by Green councillor Andy D’Agorne, whose Fishergate ward covers one of the city’s air quality blackspots.

A new seven-year bus contract will start in early 2017 and council staff say it will offer frequent, low-floor and wheelchair accessible services from the six Park & Ride sites.

In addition, new ‘“audio-visual next stop displays” will be introduced on the buses to announce the next stop along the route.

York became one of the first cities in the UK to introduce a new fleet of electric buses in 2014.