BUS users visiting York Hospital will not be helped by a shuttle service when a major road in the city closes later this month.

As reported in The Press on Wednesday, motorists face up to two weeks of disruption from April 24 when Gillygate closes to allow Yorkshire Water to repair a water main - just eight months after the road was last closed for emergency sewer repairs.

Bus and car users visiting the hospital by road will be forced to detour via Bootham, Clifton, Water Lane, Burdyke Avenue, Crichton Avenue, Wigginton Road and Clarence Street.

Marc Bichtemann, managing director at First York, urged customers to check the diversions put in place, and think about the best service to use, but confirmed there would be no repeat of last year’s free shuttle service - due in part to the number of users last year, and changes to the Number 6 service.

He said: “Some customers may remember that we provided a free shuttle bus to the hospital during the previous emergency closure of Gillygate.

“Having assessed the demand for such a service we have taken the decision to not provide this service during the upcoming closure. This decision has also been driven by the improvements to service 6, which will see additional journeys during peak time and more reliable journey times. We therefore require the additional vehicle that would have been used for a free shuttle bus service, for the number 6 route.”

The number 6 service will be diverted the full length of Burton Stone Lane and Bootham to/from Theatre Royal, and First York advised customers to alight at the ‘Coach Yard’ or ‘Duncombe Barracks’ in Burton Stone Lane, and walk along Grosvenor Road and across the railway via the footbridge to reach the hospital - but said there was no step-free access.

Services 1 and 5 will be diverted along Rougier Street, Ouse Bridge, The Stonebow and Lord Mayor’s Walk, and will be unable to serve Theatre Royal. Customers for the hospital must get off at Clarence Street and walk to the hospital along Wigginton Road, which has step free access. Interchange between services 1, 5 and 6 will be available at The Stonebow.

Service 56 will turn around at Station Road/Station Avenue and return to the University of York along Rougier Street, Ouse Bridge and The Stonebow to Morrisons, and will also be unable to serve Theatre Royal.