Anger at changes to bus services in Rawcliffe

One bus user, Dee Boyle, claimed existing bus routes were being replaced by one so convoluted and confusing that she doubted anyone would be able to follow it, let alone use it.

She said she was writing to The Press on behalf of many local residents who were going to be affected, as she was concerned that no-one seemed to be letting bus users know about the changes.

A report to Rawcliffe Parish Council has also suggested local bus services have been adversely affected by residents opting instead to use the Rawcliffe Park&Ride service to get into York.

Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for transport at City of York Council, said the county council had “pulled” the longer distance services 29 and 31A, both of which affected the area, and York could not fill this breach.

At the same time, however, Transdev’s No 14 service and Pullman’s No 22 service were also being combined to make one service – which Transdev had committed to operating on a commercial basis – as a result of a decision of the previous Liberal Democrat administration to make budget savings following Government cuts.

“Some of the apprehension concerning these changes is unfounded, as the vast majority of the area served by the local No. 14 and 22 services will still enjoy an hourly service under a new single service,” he said.

“There is a degree of re-routing which extends the length of the route from six miles to 6.5 miles, to pick up areas served by the previous different services.” He said the revised service would run on a loop and alternate its direction into town, which he accepted was a little more complicated.

Coun Merrett said some local people might use the Park&Ride service in preference to local buses, for both convenience, price and frequency reasons, but how much this impacted on local bus service use was difficult to say.

He said: “The Park&Ride sites are either way crucially important in keeping large numbers of out of town visitors off the congested city roads.”