Concerns raised over public transport links in Dales

Concerns have been raised over the escalating cost of fuel amid attempts to boost vital public transport links across the Yorkshire Dales.

Wensleydale residents claim they are being forced to pay expensive taxi bills and high charges for a volunteer car scheme if they want to travel to the nearest hospital due to soaring prices of fuel and mileage costs.

They say poor connections, long journey times and limited public transport is leaving travellers in the dale no other option.

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The issues were highlighted at a public meeting in Leyburn, which was organised by the Dales Integrated Transport Alliance (DITA) as part of the biggest transport revolution in the national park’s history.

Leyburn and Hawes are proposed sites of DITA travel hubs, eight of which are planned throughout the Dales under the scheme, which was launched in Nidderdale in October.

Helen Flynn, chairman of DITA, said: “The hubs will be places where the residents and visitors can find out more about the transport that is available in their area- whether it be commercial bus, community bus, demand responsive services, community car club or cycle hire. The hope is that by spreading awareness of the all the transport resources that are already there, people will be able to get about more easily, making greater use of shared forms of transport.”

DITA, which was set up after North Yorkshire County Council announced it was slashing its transport budget by 10 per cent, secured a £1.1m grant from the Department for Transport’s local sustainable transport fund in July.