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Hope for east Leeds villagers in bus battle
Residents in an east Leeds village fighting to save their local bus services have won a U-turn from transport bosses.
Click here for a full run down of the 20 YEP community sites launched around Leeds.
Residents in Scholes said they risked being cut off from the rest of Leeds after First bus chiefs announced plans to scrap the two main routes serving the village.
They said the proposals would leave people – especially the elderly – isolated and without access to hospitals, shops and other facilities.
More than 200 people packed a public meeting to complain and even threatened to withhold their council tax payments.
Now, though, the passenger transport authority Metro has stepped in to rescue at least part of the service.
It will provide funding for an off-peak extension of the hourly service 5A beyond Seacroft to Scholes, Pendas Fields and Cross Gates, on a "use it or lose it" basis.
And while First will press ahead with plans to withdraw the 68 and 68A services, it has agreed to divert service 64 on an hourly basis providing the village with a link to Leeds and Cross Gates.
Discussions
Metro chairman Coun Ryk Downes said: "I am pleased that we have been able to help the people of Scholes, and that First has also responded positively to our discussions."
Meanwhile, other areas which faced losing their First bus services have been thrown a lifeline by alternative operators.
From Sunday, July 19, Bradford's TLC Travel Ltd will take on the Bradford to Otley section of service 653 with a low-floor minibus every 75 minutes each way. It is in addition to Harrogate Coach Travel's plans to rescue the Otley to Harrogate part of the route.
And Halifax Joint Committee will take over service 357 which links Huddersfield's Quarmby area with the town centre, providing an hourly service starting on Monday, July 20.
Coun Downes added: "Here are another two examples of smaller bus operators seeing opportunities and seizing them."
* Full details of new services and changes are available on www.wymetro.com and in Metro's new Changing Times booklet which will be published shortly.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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