Lib Dems slam Labour council’s ‘wasted year’ on Dial & Ride

York’s Liberal Democrat councillors have criticised the council’s Labour administration for a ‘wasted year’ in which they have done nothing to restore a Dial & Ride community transport service for local residents. 

In December 2023 the Dial & Ride service operated by York Wheels came to an end. It had provided an accessible and low-cost minibus service which enabled older and disabled people to access services in the city centre and at out of town shopping centres. In response, a group of Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative councillors established a Task & Finish Group to look into whether there remains a need for the service and what options there might be for a replacement. 

On 25 June 2024 a report produced by the cross-party group was endorsed by the council’s Economy, Place, Access & Transport Scrutiny Committee. It contained seven recommendations for action including that “the council should as soon as possible take steps to ensure the provision of a robust and sustainable Community Transport service for York residents which would fulfil the need that has been unmet since the cessation of the Dial & Ride service.”

It is usual for reports such as this from the council’s Scrutiny committees to be considered by the ruling Executive, but the report has gone nowhere since its approval. The council’s budget for 2025/26 does include a one-off sum of £20,000 to explore options for a Dial & Ride replacement, but it is unclear whether this work is now underway. The Lib Dem alternative budget included £150,000 to help get a replacement service up and running, but this was voted down by Labour councillors. 

Lib Dem Transport spokesperson Cllr Stephen Fenton has called on the Labour Executive to prioritise work to get a replacement Dial & Ride service up and running.

“It’s quite rare that there is cross-party consensus, but on the issue of Dial & Ride there was clear agreement that a replacement service needed to be in place as soon as possible. That makes it even more difficult to understand why the Labour Executive has done nothing in the 12 months since the Task & Finish Group’s report and recommendations were approved. 

“The £20k allocated for a study into options for a replacement is welcome, but why did it take so long and where is the evidence of progress? If the Executive had responded to the report last year this work could have been completed by now. 

“There is a real human cost to this wasted year as many of those who used this service have lost their ability to get out and about without being reliant on friends or family. This loss of independence is real and it’s frankly shameful that the council has effectively abandoned these York residents. They deserve better.”