Budget squeeze leads to bus cuts

The proposals will see £800,000 removed from North Yorkshire’s bus subisdy budget triggering changes to dozens of services.

The changes will take effect in April next year and will largely see services amended or removed at certain times of day rather than scrapped altogether.

The county says the changes will only affect 35 of the 111 routes it helps support financially but the proposals have been the subject of a wave of criticism from local bus users.

One of the objections received by the council said: “We should be asshamed that proposed bus services cuts in out large rural country are the most drastic in the whole country.

“There are many retired people in this area who can no longer drive and are completely dependent on bus services for many reasons.

“Also it is a great concern that their social isolation will be increased by the cuts, leading to health and mental health problems and therefore costing the country more in the long run.”

But the council insists the reductions to bus subsidies is necessary as part of wider efforts to balance the county’s books as Government support for local government is reduced.

It says it is focusing its spending on services which reduce isolation and help support the local economy.

The county approved a cut of £2 million in the amount spent on bus subsidies in January last year and next week members of the council’s executive will be asked to agree a further £800,000 reduction as the subsidy budget is cut to £1.5 million.