HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds from York's Better Bus Fund should be spent on public transport instead of improvements to Wigginton Road according to Green Party councillors.

Cllr Andy D'Agorne has criticised the "abuse" of public transport money for the roadworks, which are set to cost £200,000.

And the group has thrown its support behind plans by York Bus Forum for the money to be used on a shared "hospibus" service to take patients to and from appointments.

And Cllr Denise Craghill said: “In 2015 the Greens proposed a trial of a free shuttle bus serving the hospital which would have cost less than the council’s current proposal, which it claims could shave about 90 seconds off overall journey times in the area. Helping people to access the hospital by public transport is surely a more appropriate use of Better Bus Fund money.

“I share residents' concerns about the proposed removal of the mini-roundabout at the Fountayne Street junction. Residents were hoping for a solution that would make it easier and safer to turn out onto the main road but this proposal seems to be doing the opposite. It is also questionable whether the tinkering with pedestrian crossing facilities at the Lowther Street junction will be any significant improvement."

Cllr D'Agorne is calling for a review of the spending plans, saying the proposals are an "abuse of funding."

He said: “Abuse of this funding in this way undermines our chances of getting future government funding for sustainable transport measures.”

A consultation has been launched on the proposals and runs until September 2. To have your say visit york.gov.uk/press/article/2621/have_your_say_on_wigginton_road_improvements.