York bus changes unveiled (From York Press)

York bus changes unveiled

9:30am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

CONTROVERSIAL changes and cuts to bus services on several York routes have been unveiled at a packed public meeting.

Residents and commuters were invited to join local bus providers and City of York Council transport officials at York Explore to discuss the alterations, and senior York councillor Dave Merrett  said it was “standing room only”.

He said bus operator First said it was proposing changes to tackle unreliability, which had caused serious concerns on several routes, including Services 12 and 13. Number 12 currently runs from Foxwood to Haxby West Nooks and 13 runs from Copmanthorpe to Monks Cross, with both services operating every half-hour.

He said First now wanted Number 12 to run from Foxwood to Monks Cross, still operating every half-hour, and the number 13 to go from Copmanthorpe to Haxby West Nooks, but operating only once an hour.

He said the Number 11 from Bishopthorpe to Ashley Park in the Stockton Lane area would also no longer go on a loop through the streets of South Bank, but take a direct route down Bishopthorpe Road.

However, the council was looking at the subsidised network to see how it could pick up in areas such as this which were losing out.

Coun Merrett said improvements to reliability would be welcome, but he would be disappointed at any reduction in service frequency.

Green councillor Andy D’Agorne said any cuts in services ran counter to attempts to encourage people to travel by public transport rather than by car.

His party colleague, Dave Taylor , said: “There is clearly a great deal of concern among citizens, one of whom wrote to me recently, frustrated that he cannot easily go out into York in the evening as there will be no bus to get him home.”

A First spokesman said: “We are currently working with the council to look at ways to deal with reliability issues on certain tendered routes in York. These proposed service changes will help to alleviate some of these issues and therefore will benefit the vast majority of our customers in York.”