North Yorkshire Bus Cuts

North Yorkshire County Council have released a list of proposed cuts to tendered services from April 2011 for consultation. The axe is proposed mainly over evening and Sunday tendered services, with the cuts, totalling £600,000, being blamed on the "economic climate".

Some of the changes affect cross boundary services in East Yorkshire. The Monday to Saturday evening service on Arriva operated route 400 from Selby to Goole via Snaith and Goole Hospital is proposed to be withdrawn. The would lead to the 1910 and 2110 from Selby and the 2000 and 2200 return from Goole ending. The Selby-Goole service is already due to see early evening cutbacks from 31st August.

Also under threat is the daily evening service on EYMS operated route 121 between Scarborough and Hunmanby. While this section of route is wholly within North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire Council fund extensions to Bridlington Monday to Saturdays.

There are four probable outcomes here:
1. The cuts happen
2. The proposals are withdrawn, or the size of the cuts are reduced
3. East Riding of Yorkshire Council provide replacement funding and either the cuts do not take place, or are less severe
4. Some or all of the affected services are taken on commercially

However it must be rembered here the economic situation. While it is possible public pressure may see a slight reduction in the size of the cuts, more likely is that any 'saved' services will mean cuts to other services elsewhere. And while East Riding of Yorkshire Council could step in with replacement funding, they too are facing the same "economic climate". As are bus operators. These services are tendered in the first place for a reason.

EYMS's Scarborough and District operation also faces major cuts to the tendered services it operates in the evenings and on Sundays, while North Yorkshire County Council's contribution to the MoorsBus network is also under threat. This includes a service from Hull.

Comments on the proposed cuts can be sent by 31st October by letter or email. Contact details are on the first page of the detailed consultation document showing exactly what services are under threat across North Yorkshire. The level of detail and consultation is to be comended.

As a final thought, how long before tendered services budgets get cut at the four Humber region authoritie?. Marginal and loss making commercial services have been cut in the past two years across the region, and marginal or loss making tendered services have been surrendered. This has put increased pressure on council budgets. Now it is likely to be councils wielding the axe. And all against a background of uncertainty to the future of the bus service operators grant (BSOG).