Councillors hit out at bus crisis as more cuts announced

York’s Lib Dem Councillors have expressed serious concerns about the impact that the national bus crisis could have on residents, as more bus service cuts have been announced.

Connexions, the bus operating company that runs the number 13 bus between Haxby and Copmanthorpe (via New Earswick, York and York College) has given notice that it intends to withdraw the 13’s Saturday service from the 10th December.

This is the latest service withdrawal notification and follows the Connexions submitting notice for the 412 service between Wetherby, and York through Tockwith and Rufforth.

Currently both services have been put out on short-term tender process by the Council with an aim to find operators which could run the services either on a commercial or subsidised basis until the end of March 2023.

More bus operators are set to submit changes to services over the coming weeks and months as the bus network is the city and across the country is facing a really grave situation due to the impact of the pandemic, rising costs, lack of bus drivers and the ending of Government funding support.

While the council uses around £700k each year to support services that are not commercially viable, this cannot meet the scale of the challenge we are now experiencing from routes operating without council subsidy. In December senior councillors will receive a report on the work that will have to be undertaken with operators to save as many services and routes as possible.  

Reacting to the news of this latest cut to service, local Lib Dem councillors and campaigners are asking residents to sign a petition showing their support for the service.

Haxby and Wigginton Liberal Democrat Councillor Andrew Hollyer said:

"Since the announcement of the intended cut to the 13's Saturday service we've heard from many residents, particularly elderly and mobility impaired people, in Haxby, New Earswick and Copmanthorpe that would find it more difficult to go about their lives. 

"So far over 300 people have filled in our petition and survey at https://digitallibdems.typeform.com/13bus asking for the plan to be reconsidered. Please do consider adding your name!”

"We've heard from people about how the service is a lifeline for them in getting in to York to visit friends, shop and work - particularly as it has more convenient drop off points than other services such as the number 1.

“This is just the latest bus service that is now facing cuts, and there is real fear that more are yet to come. We have major concerns over the impact on residents of what is starting to look like a real bus crisis across the city and the country.”

Huntington and New Earswick Lib Dem Councillor Keith Orrell added:

“The No 13 is an important bus connection between our communities of Huntington and New Earswick.

“We are in a time of immense pressure for bus services nationally and York is clearly no exception. The stark reality is that the survival of many services across the city are on a knife edge.

“Unless bus services receive urgent long-term support from the Government, both financially as well as through driver recruitment, more services are likely to face cancellation. This is becoming a major issue and the Government really needs to wake up and act now before it’s too late.”