THIS year, the residents of Copmanthorpe have benefited from action by City of York Council in respect of local bus services.

First York’s regrettable decision to cut early morning and evening services has been mitigated by the council’s successful intervention to persuade the excellent Coastliner to make detours to the village centre, to serve those inconvenienced by the loss of some number 13 services.

Copmanthorpe residents have increasingly been using alternative modes of transport to the car – cycling or taking the bus for all or part of their journeys, proving that, if the facilities for sustainable transport exist, people will use them.

The Askham Bar Park&Ride site has been popular with residents of the village travelling into York, as well as those from further afield.

The buses are faster than the car at peak times and users avoid expensive parking charges.

Indeed, the Askham Bar site is the most used of all the Park&Rides and the only one to have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers. So the council’s plan to build a new larger site as part of the Access York project is great news.

Richard Brown, Horseman Avenue, Copmanthorpe.