Bus service review consultation begins

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is reviewing some of the early morning, rural, evening and Sunday services it supports.

The first consultation sessions were held in Halifax and Barkisland earlier this week and more are planned across the affected areas, including in Rippondon, which could lose its 528 service to Rochdale.

The 505 Halifax - Thornton - Four Lane Ends service is also proposed to be axed entirely

Other areas will see route changes, reductions to early morning, Sunday and evening services, and a reduction in frequency to some routes.

Coun James Lewis, chair of the WYCA’s Transport Committee, said: “This Government has reduced the funding received by West Yorkshire’s Councils by hundreds of millions of pounds, which in turn means The Combined Authority has less to spend on bus services.

“We will be consulting local people extensively to ensure that we reduce the impact of these changes as far as we can.”

Drop in sessions will run until July 9 and the consultation ends on Monday July 21. Contracts are expected to be awarded in the New Year, with the new network in place by the end of January.

Details of the sessions and the routes affected can be found at www.wymetro.com/busreview.