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Move to axe Leeds bus services reversed - COMMENT ON THIS STORY
Transport chiefs have reversed a decision to axe bus services in south Leeds after an angry outcry from passengers.
Bus firm First and public transport coordinator Metro have agreed to reinstate five services lost early this year.
The axe sparked fury in the affected communities with a petition signed by over 1,000 handed to the bus operators.
In March more that 200 people attended a meeting at Belle Isle Working Men's Club where representatives from First and Metro heard the protests.
Route numbers 74, 85, 86 and 87 will now be re-instated. The routes had been initially cut despite no prior public consultation.
Geoff Driver and Judith Blake, Labour councillors for the Middleton Park area, described the decision as a victory for "people power".
Coun Geoff Driver said: "I am delighted that Metro and First have really listened to local people. This is a genuine victory for residents.
"The bus operators were wrong to slash routes, which cut residents off from vital amenities, and to do so without consultation."
The councillors have pledged to support residents again in future if similar cuts are introduced.
The YEP reported yesterday how First are planning a savage round of bus service cuts across West Yorkshire. It is understood six per cent of the firm's services in the county look set to be axed from mid-July.
The proposal comes less than a month after First – Leeds's biggest bus operator – introduced fare rises.
Coun Blake said: "These buses are literally a lifeline for many local people so it is right that services are to be restored.
"However, I can assure residents we remain vigilant and will oppose any future repetition of recent cuts."
Services being restored are:
85/87: restored to Stourton Grange/ Raylands and Cranmore from City Centre via Pepper Rd and Sussex Avenue. Reinstating through links to Middleton Centre and Morley
74: frequency reduced from every 20 minutes to half hourly. Evening service 74A to return to its previous route via Old Run Road;
88/88A: New hourly services to Middleton via Winrose Drive and Newhall Road. 88 via current 85 route to Middleton Shopping Centre, 88A via Manor Farm to Middleton Arms.
86: Reinstated between Bramley and Belle Isle Monday to Saturday daytime
481:Arriva service 481 will revert to operating via Dewsbury Road and will not divert via South Leeds Stadium.The Metro-funded evening and Sunday operation of 481 via South Leeds Stadium will continue.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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