An opposition councillors’ call for funding to get a restored Dial & Ride service off the ground and end inaction on the issue has been branded a sticking plaster solution.

Opposition Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Coun Stephen Fenton said the lack of progress on restoring the service since it was axed in 2023 showed it was not a priority.

Coun Fenton added £100,000 made from the sale of two of the service’s buses should be used to help get the service back up and running as soon as possible.

Ruling Labour’s transport spokesperson Coun Kate Ravilious said throwing money at an immediate fix would not provide a long-term solution as officials continue to explore options to restore the service.

It follows a call from the Liberal Democrats for the council to earmark £150,000 to restart the service in the coming financial year.

Their amendment to include the cash in the council’s 2026/7 budget as part of alternative opposition spending proposals was voted down.

Dial & Ride, which offered elderly and disabled people who could not get around on their own transport to shops and elsewhere, was axed in December 2023.

A cross-party task and finish group which looked into why the service ended and the impact those who used it recommended restoring it in June 2024.

The council’s Labour administration put £20,000 in the 2025/6 budget to fund a study into how the service could be restarted.

A report which went to a council Place Scrutiny Committee in November stated options included contracting the running of the service to a commercial or community provider.

An existing community transport service could also be funded to run a new Dial & Ride, according to the report.

November’s meeting heard the study was yet to commence, but council transport behaviour lead Tom Horner said officials would look into alternatives which could stand in in the meantime.

He added he would take calls for increased urgency on board but said his team were facing capacity and resource issues.

Liberal Democrat Coun Fenton said the needs of those who used the service were being ignored.

The oppositon transport spokesperson said: “Older and disabled people should be supported to live fulfilled and independent lives, but the experience of the past two years suggests Dial & Ride is not a priority for this Labour administration.

“Their actions, or inaction, speak far more loudly than their words.

“Has the £100,000 from the sale of the Dial & Ride buses been ringfenced to support the establishment of a replacement service? If not, why not?”

Ruling Labour’s Coun Ravilious said restoring the service was a priority for them but they needed to find a solution that would keep a new service running long-term.

She added the service had suffered from funding cuts and a lack of a clear operating model under the previous Liberal Democrat and Green administration, contributing to its collapse.

The transport executive member said: “Our priority is find a new operating model that is viable when responsibility for bus services transfers out of the council across to the York and North Yorkshrie Combined Authority soon.

“This is what the current study is exploring and in the meantime, we’re working hard to improve public transport for disabled people, including offering taxis for any wheelchair users refused access by private bus companies and improvements to our bus stops to make them more accessible for all.

“The Liberal Democrat budget proposal was nothing more than a short-term, sticking plaster solution, and we need something more permanent.”