Labour propose cuts to local bus services

Westfield, Foxwood, Woodthorpe and Dringhouses areas affected

The evening and Sunday number 14 service from Foxwood Lane via Woodthorpe will be discontinued. The 13A service serving Hamilton Drive is retained subject to retendering. The Middlethorpe loop off Tadcaster Road is in jeopardy

The full changes – proposed due to “low passenger levels” – can be found here.  (click for route map)

Proposed bus service cuts

Proposed bus service cuts

Services withdrawn fully: Routes

Partial reductions: Routes

Subject to further discussions with neighbouring authorities: Route

The proposals to change bus services, which are currently subsidised by City of York Council will go to a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 6 January.

The Council is aiming to reduce bus subsidies by around £200,000. This compares to the £700,000 abortive expenditure that it incurred during  the Lendal Bridge closure. The aim of the latter had been to increase bus usage.

There has been no consultation with passengers over the plan and the report makes no attempt to offer alternatives for those who do not have private transport.

In the past the Council has promoted dial a ride and similar services to provide a basic link on low use bus routes.

Unfortunately use of taxis may also prove to be expensive for older people since Labour withdrew of the tokens/taxi card alternative to having a bus pass

If approved, the service changes could be implemented from April 2015.
(more…)

York Tory Councillor to be sacked over Local Plan comments

The Conservative Councillor Joe Watt,  who last week sided with Labour plans to build on York’s Green Belt, is to be sacked from his planning role.

He will be replaced on the Local Plan Working Group by fellow Conservative Paul Healey. The proposal is revealed in papers published late on Christmas Eve.

Cllr Watt outraged opinion in his Shelton/Rawcliffe ward by advocating a plan which could involve building 4000 houses on land adjacent to the A1237 at Clifton Moor.

Labour are proposing to build 15,000 additional homes in the York area in total over the next 15 years. Council figures confirm that the growth in the indigenous population will only be 6200 during the same period.

Liberal Democrat Councillors have argued for a more cautious economic growth strategy with between 600 and 650 extra homes being provided each year on brownfield (previously developed) land in the City.