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04
Dec 2022
Public control of North Yorkshire bus network 'not realistic', says transport chief
Public control of North Yorkshire’s bus network is not a “realistic answer” to the system’s current woes, says the county’s transport chief.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport at North Yorkshire County Council, said such a move would be too expensive for the authority to take on.
It comes as officials at the county council have warned passengers that some services may be scrapped if not enough people use them.
Cllr Duncan told an executive meeting that bringing the network under public authority ownership - often referred to as franchising - would lead to “20 to 30 thousands pounds of subsidy” per passenger every year.
He said:
Local control is 'better value'
Matthew Topham, of the Better Buses for North Yorkshire campaign group, said that bringing the county’s network under local control was “common sense”.
Mr Topham said a franchising model - which Transport for London and Greater Manchester operate under - would be better value for passengers.
He said:
The network’s woes come as seven months ago the government rejected North Yorkshire County Council’s bid for a £116m share of Boris Johnson’s high-profile Bus Back Better initiative, saying the local authority’s plans lacked ambition.
Since then, local politicians have raised concern over the future of services in their area.
Read more:
- North Yorkshire transport boss warns bus network faces ‘really grave situation’
- 80 bus services in North Yorkshire under threat, says Harrogate district MP
Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate, said he feared up to 80 services could be under threat across the county.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillor for Pateley Bridge, Andrew Murday, said residents of his division faced having just two services a day to Harrogate.
He said:
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