COUNCILLORS have given their approval to plans to cut funding for bus services, despite receiving hundreds of objections from passengers.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council’s transport scrutiny committee have recommended that the proposal to withdraw £600,000 of subsidies from next April is given the go-ahead.

Under the plans, nearly 30 bus routes across the county, including Selby to York, York to Easingwold, Selby to Leeds, and affecting villages such as Stillingfleet and Sherburn-in Elmet, would be slashed on evenings, Sundays and bank holidays.

During the council’s three-month consultation with members of the public, 331 objections were sent to county hall, including seven petitions totalling 769 signatures. Only nine people voiced their support for the proposals.

But Coun David Jeffels, chair of the transport scrutiny committee, said the council, which is set to lose nearly £11 million in Government grants, had no choice but to go ahead with the cuts.

He said: “It is regrettable, that goes without saying, but it’s fair to say that in the present climate we have no alternative.

“I don’t think people’s concerns have been ignored. We have looked at all the representations made and it is vital that we explore every opportunity to minimise the impact of the cuts.

“We will be working with bus operators and community transport providers to see if they can retain the services on a commercial basis. We will also be closely monitoring the situation to see how it works out. If there are any particular issues that arise we will have a look at them.”

Among the bus passengers who registered their opposition to the cuts was epilepsy sufferer Caroline Hurst, who relies on the Number 128 Scarborough to Helmsley service to get to work.

She said: “If the evening services are terminated I will not be able to get home from work. I understand that cuts have to be made and that at times the evening buses are not always full, but rather than cut them why not use a smaller bus?”

Meanwhile, Mike Cowling, from Cawood, said the Number 42 Selby to York service was a “lifeline” for non-motorists travelling to York or Selby for shopping, work or leisure.

A final decision on whether to approve the proposals will be made at the council’s executive meeting on December 21.