York bus services to be cut to save cash

Senior councillors will be asked to approve the proposals next week as part of York Council’s wider efforts to save money in common with authorities across the region.

A report on the changes says services have been identified on the basis they have the lowest passenger numbers.

If the go-ahead is given, the 16a service connecting Heworth to Acomb on Sundays and the six-day-a-week 36 service between Elvington and York will be cut completely although the x36 which also serves Elvington will be retained.

Services departing after 8pm on Sundays to Thursdays on the 10 route linking Stamford Bridge and Dunnington with Poppleton and Acomb will be withdrawn.

Monday to Thursday evening services and Sunday services on route 14 from Foxwood to Haxby will also go.

The council will issue a tender looking for a bus company to run a revised 20 service from Clifton Moor to the Monks Cross and Vangarde shopping centres as the existing route has sections which are poorly used.

Fares for children on the 627, 637 and 647 services will also rise from £1 to £2 return in line with the prices offered on the rest of the network saving the council around £16,000.

In common with other councils, York subsidises services where councillors consider there to be a need not met by commercial operators.

The council pays a maximum subsidy of £2 per passenger and services must carry a minimum of nine passengers an hour.