A NEW regime for bus travel in York is needed if the city is not to be "at the mercy of the commercial interests of a multinational transport corporation", city Greens said today.

The Green Party will use next week's full City of York Council meeting to call for the introduction of a Quality Bus Contract, to shift the "balance of power back to the council".

Coun Andy D'Agorne, the Green Party leader, said the controversial changes to bus fares at the beginning of the month showed that First could make changes to its services and fares to suit its commercial interests.

He is claiming that those decisions to increase fares by up to 75 per cent demonstrated the partnership approach with the council is "not working".

"First has a near-monopoly on buses in the city and these price rises seriously undermine our efforts to encourage public transport in the city," he said.

"Currently, we have no way of ensuring the company play their part, in return for all the public investment in things like bus shelters, priority lanes and the like.

"The partnership approach has failed in cities all over the UK. Bus companies are making healthy profits with little competition, while in most cities bus usage declines.

"If the council is serious about promoting bus usage as an alternative to the car and holding on to the gains we have made here in York, it will have to take control."

Coun D'Agorne said moves towards a bus contract had already been taken in Norwich after similar fare increases from First.

He also claimed a Labour plan to hold a cross-party meeting with First did not go far enough.

"If the council is to meet its objectives on congestion, air quality and accessibility, it cannot afford to be at the mercy of the commercial interests of a multinational transport corporation. We need a new regime," he said.

Peter Edwards, First's commercial director, said: "Coun D'Agorne clearly misunderstands the concept of the quality contract as they are intended to improve service quality and not fix fares.

"York is one of the few places where service quality is already very high and we have shown, through an effective voluntary partnership with the local council, just what can be achieved in terms of passenger growth."

Updated: 11:34 Monday, January 23, 2006