24
Jul
Transport chief warns of 600% bus fare hikes in North Yorkshire
Transport chief Keane Duncan today warned bus fares could increase by up to 600% in North Yorkshire at the end of the year.
Fares are currently capped at £2 a journey thanks to a subsidy from the previous Conservative government.
But the subsidy is due to end at the end of the year and it is unclear if the new Labour administration will extend it.
Cllr Duncan, the Consecutive executive member for highways at North Yorkshire Council, told fellow councillors today they needed "clarity on the future of the £2 fare cap that is due to end in December".
He added:
We know this has proven to be critical support for routes here in North Yorkshire, passenger levels increasing by 11% last year. It has been a lifeline for services that have been teetering on the edge of survival.
There is now a real fear of a cliff edge if the scheme ends as planned in December. Some routes in our county could see a 600% increase in the fare. Services here could return to financial difficulty and once again be in the perilous financial situation we have worked so hard to overcome.
Speaking at today's full council meeting in Northallerton, Cllr Duncan also called on David Skaith, the Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, to give an update on his plans for bus.
Last week's King's Speech announced the government planned to bring forward a Better Buses Bill that introduced powers for local leaders to take control of bus services.
Cllr Duncan said:
This is a power our region has already secured as a result of devolution although we have not yet had any indication from our new mayor as to whether he plans to follow his Labour colleague and move forward with a franchising approach — public control as Labour would call it.
This authority, operators and passengers in the county would find it very helpful to have that clarity from the mayor about his intentions.
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