A DECISION to alter bus services to York from Selby through the village of Escrick has been criticised by residents who say it will mean they have to cross the busy A19 on foot.

Arriva, the company which operates the 415 service from Selby to York, announced buses would no longer stop at the shelter in Main Street, meaning residents, including pupils of nearby Queen Margaret’s School, would have to use the stop outside St Helen’s church on the main A19.

Carole Cameron, deputy head teacher of Queen Margaret’s, said: “The reduction in service is one issue, but we are concerned that there is a bend in that stretch of the A19 and drivers cannot see who is crossing the road.

“We have teenagers who are allowed to go into York and back, but crossing the A19 here is a health and safety risk and we will have to review our position on that now.”

She said the school community fully supported the parish council’s calls for the buses to continue to use the bus shelter in the village.

The council recently called for all residents to visit Arriva’s website and object to the withdrawal of the service and has written to Selby MP Nigel Adams asking him to support the campaign.

A petition has also been set up in Escrick against the shake-up of services.

Village postmaster Trevor Davies said: “This bus route has been here since we came here about 21 years ago. We are worried about elderly people and children crossing the busy A19.”

Nigel Featham, managing director for Arriva Yorkshire, said he appreciated concerns over road safety and said the changes were not a decision taken lightly.

He said: “However, the number of passengers boarding the service at both the shelter on Main Street and the church equates to less than one person per journey.

“We also estimate that around half of these passengers are already boarding at the church bus stop.”