THE loss of bus routes in and around Selby should be halted under new powers wielded by the county council, said the town's prospective MP.

Jan Marshall joined parish councillors from around Selby District yesterday to call on North Yorkshire County Council to step in and save rural bus routes.

The long serving Labour district councillor is hoping to take over from current Selby MP John Grogan when he steps down at the next general election.

Coun Marshall was accompanied by parish councillors from Hemingbrough and Sherburn in Elmet on the site visit.

She said: “Previous legislation meant that when bus services were cut by private bus operators there was little or nothing local authorities could do to prevent it happening.

“In the last year or so services have been cut in Sherburn, meaning buses into Leeds are now hourly as opposed to half-hourly.

“The number four service from Hemingbrough to Selby saw cuts just before Christmas and there are constant rumours of cuts to the number 42 route from Selby to York.

“Under the new legislation North Yorkshire County Council has been given a much stronger hand over the regulation of buses and an opportunity to prevent cuts to services such as these.”

She urged North Yorkshire County Council to exercise its powers and said she was disappointed that “Conservative-spokespeople have indicated that if they get into power nationally they will once again de-regulate the bus market”.

Claire Wood, North Yorkshire County council's executive member for environment, said the authority's powers extended to them working closely with bus operators, which is something they were currently doing to provide a “reliable and quality service.”

She said: “Regarding our own subsidised bus service, we have a very good record in Selby.

“We want to encourage people to get out of their cars and onto buses that's very important to us.”