Longer term future of key bus services secured
Councillors have welcomed the approval of longer-term contracts for three bus services which were at risk of being axed from the 1st April. The Council has stepped in to secure 2 year subsidised contracts for the number 12, 13 and 412 services.
The routes were put under threat after bus operators announced the plans to entirely withdraw the number 12/12A and 412 services, as well as the number 13 Saturday service, citing low patronage recovery, increased operating costs and a shortage of available drivers.
Short term contracts agreed by the Council in December secured the service operation till the 1st April. The Council have since undertaken a tender exercise for longer term services and have now entered into 2-year contracts for these services. The new operators will receive financial support in the form of a subsidy from the Council to keep services running until the end of March 2025.
This follows a campaign launched by local Lib Dem councillors and campaigners to save the services, which has seen thousands of residents sign local petitions.
Councillors have welcomed the extension of the service and committed to working with the new operators to help make them a success, whilst also expressing concern about the future of local bus services as the next Government funding cliff edge is looming in June.
Lib Dem Councillor for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Stephen Fenton commented:
“I’m delighted that the Council has stepped in to secure the longer term future of the number 12 route. This will come as a major relief to many hundreds of residents in Woodthorpe, Acomb Park and Foxwood who were facing the loss of their only public transport service.
“Speaking to residents over the last few months, it’s become clear just how important the service is for many residents who use it to get to the shops, to work, to medical appointments, to school and to meet friends and family.
“Whilst this intervention by the Council is very welcome, it’s clear that the repeated last minute short term Government funding extensions are no substitute for a sustainable long term approach to supporting bus services. The next funding cliff edge in June will present yet more challenges to the local bus network.”
Lib Dem Councillor for Rural West York Anne Hook added:
“This is very welcome news, particularly to the many Rufforth residents, who were facing the loss of the only bus service they currently have – the 412.
“It’s crucial that as many people as possible now use the service to ensure that operators can see the benefits and financial case for sustaining the service and consider reinstating the Saturday service.
“York is by no means alone in facing what is nothing less than a bus crisis. Unless the bus sector receives urgent long-term support, both financially as well as through driver recruitment, more services are likely to face cancellation having a severe impact on our communities.”
Haxby and Wigginton Councillor Andrew Hollyer said: "We're delighted that City of York Council have been able to step in to save the 13's Saturday service for the next two years, giving residents some clarity and peace of mind.
"Thank you to the hundreds of people that signed our petition and filled in our survey, the responses made clear how much this service is valued by many local residents.”
Cllr Keith Orrell, Liberal Democrat councillor for Huntington and New Earswick, added:
“This is brilliant news for the people of Huntington and New Earswick. The No 12 and No13 buses provide routes that the No 1 and No 5 don’t serve. We know from the residents who supported our campaigns that they will be very pleased that the threat to these services has been lifted.”