FOR about a year I have had concerns around the bus services provided by First, particularly over payment by passengers. These concerns were first raised when the introduction of the FTR bus, which will initially run on the No 4 route, was announced.

My concerns were raised by the fact that all the literature I researched talked about the FTR being a cash-less bus. Although I asked both First and council officers about it, the answers I received were never clear.

It seems the new pricing to be introduced by First in the New Year are the start of this process.

This has a number of potential consequences. First, the cost increases. This will affect those on low incomes and occasional users. Not everyone can take advantage of the savings of the "10 Ticket", so hitting those either on low income or those living in areas where there are no shops selling pre-boarding tickets.

Then there is the huge increase in tickets used by schoolchildren, rising from £20 to £30 per month - a yearly increase of £130 per year per child.

York already has congestion problems due to the school run and this type of increase will only add to it with many parents seeing the car as a cheaper option. This charge hike is also strange at a time when London has made travel for under 16 year olds free.

York, in common with other councils across the country, has a Quality Bus Partnership. First used to work in partnership with the council but it seems that over these price increases and ticket changes the partnership has fallen apart. Disappointing is not the word.

If bus usage in the city is to continue to grow then First need to think about the service they provide for all York residents.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Labour spokesperson for planning & transport,

Salisbury Road, York.

Updated: 09:53 Monday, January 02, 2006