TWO bus routes could be cut completely and several others reduced in money saving proposals being put forward by the city council.

The transport department at City of York Council is looking at reducing the subsidy it gives bus services in York, to make some of the £200,000 savings it needs in 2015/16.

The proposals are due to be decided at a meeting of the council's cabinet on Tuesday, January 6, and focus on the least used services in the bus network.

The 16a and 17 buses could be completely withdrawn while the 10, 14, 36 and 20 could be reduced, and talks are going on about whether the 21 from York through Bishopthorpe and Appleton Roebuck to Colton will continue in 2016.

The bus companies have been involved in talks over which services are least used, the council reports say.

Neil Ferris, the council's assistant director for transport, highways and waste, said: “A close evaluation of passenger numbers across the subsidised York network has now been undertaken, which has shown that levels on some services are amongst some of the lowest on the York bus network. This means we can no longer justify the subsidy paid to operate them.

"In some cases less than nine passengers are using the service every hour. We simply can not afford to continue funding services which are poorly used. This is why we are taking a report to Cabinet and recommending these savings are approved."

If approved, the service changes could be implemented from April 2015.

The papers also asks the cabinet to think about changing the criteria for bus subsidies to a minimum of 13 passengers per journey - which could save the council an extra £35,000 in 2015/16 through the withdrawal of Sunday services on the 11 and 13, and Friday and Saturday evening buses on the 14.