Anne McIntosh: Change in law needed to safeguard rural bus services

TONIGHT, I will lead a debate in Parliament on the future of rural bus services.

The proposed reduction of bus services in North Yorkshire is causing anxiety particularly amongst elderly and less mobile passengers. Buses provide a lifeline to constituents in rural communities, with many relying on the services.

Rural bus services, like those to towns such as Thirsk, Malton, Pickering and Filey are particularly vital, connecting the rural hinterland to the rural communities ensuring that constituents are able to continue with their lives. These routes are used by 3,500 local residents every month.

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I welcome the fact that North Yorkshire County Council’s scrutiny committee has taken the opportunity to review its decision to reduce services.

The withdrawal of the bus service will greatly disadvantage the elderly who are the majority of the users and may face increasing isolation as a result.

These bus services are a matter for commercial bus operators and local authorities, in this case North Yorkshire County Council.

Concessionary bus travel was introduced by the last Labour government, initially purely for local residents and then later, extended to national users.

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It is important to note that inadequate funds were given to the council to provide this service. In tourist spots like Ryedale, Filey, Harrogate and Scarborough, financial pressures ensued as the take up by concessionary fare passengers increased manifold.

Buses transporting schoolchildren in the area are also coming under pressure. These provide a help to families who have children attending local schools out of their villages. Constituents have contacted me regarding the removal of the school bus transport service.

It has been suggested that the children walk out of their village, Whitwell, on to Tout Hill and then on to Whitwell road. There are no pavements and there is a 60 mph speed limit. This is impractical and potentially dangerous.

North Yorkshire County Council is facing great challenge due to the coalition’s austerity programme. It is currently mid-way through a budget review with reductions of £168m. Of this, bus subsidies will be reduced by £2m. The council currently spends £8m per year subsidising concessionary fare travel in the county. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the bus users are elderly.

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Allowing pensioners to have a bus pass is of great value but of no avail if bus services are removed.

The county council has suggested the Dial a Ride scheme as an alternative; however, this service does not provide the appropriate infrastructure nor the frequency to cope with the sheer number of users. The ability to access essential services, such as doctors, dentists, hospitals and even shops, will inevitably be compromised.

In the short term, there is a shortfall in funding from NYCC to be made up and I have been contacted by constituents suggesting they could sponsor a bus and pay out of their own pocket for their much valued bus services.

Many constituents are willing to subsidise their services however, this solution is prohibited due to the Concessionary Bus Travel Act. This Act prevents pensioners from contributing to their bus travel.

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When I have travelled on the bus from home to Northallerton or Thirsk, I am often the only full fare paying passenger on board.

Yet the bus services are vital to my constituents. If residents are willing to pay for their service, then surely this must be permitted.

The Campaign for Better Transport fear that these changes to bus services could lead to the removal of concessionary fares for pensioners altogether in the long term.

However, a local bus operator believes that the problem arises due to funds for transport not being ring-fenced. This means that other departments at County Hall are able to take money that would otherwise be used for transport. If this money was ring-fenced, then vital services would be protected.

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Reducing bus services will ultimately have a knock on effect on those living in the villages finding access to doctors, hospitals, dentists and shops increasingly difficult.

What is needed is a change in the current law which would permit concessionary fare passengers to contribute towards their travel provided by commercial bus operators on the same basis as rail passengers.

That is the purpose of my debate and I very much hope for a positive outcome.

• Anne McIntosh is the Conservative MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey. She is chairman of Parliament’s Environment Select Committee.