Leeds councillors join Kippax and Methley petition against reduced Arriva bus services

Councillors Mary Harland, Mirelle Midgley and leader of Leeds City Council James Lewis, have called for talks between bus companies First and Arriva with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) aimed at better arranging bus routes to serve the area and avoid duplication of resources.

Recent changes to the 140/141 bus routes in Methley have seen severe reductions in services to Lower Mickletown with no direct services to Leeds and a reduction in service to the Watergate bridge area in early morning and evenings.

Sue Melnyczuk, a resident of Lower Mickletown, said: “We’re cut off thanks to Arriva Buses actions. Older people are isolated and some of us are spending a fortune on taxis getting to work.

"Arriva need to know how strongly people feel about putting these buses back so please sign the petition.”

Elsewhere withdrawal of the 166 service has ended direct journeys to jobs and appointments at Seacroft Hospital from Kippax and Allerton Bywater while the withdrawal of the X60 service has meant extended commute times with morning and evening journeys often taking an extra 30 to 45 minutes.

Councillor Mary Harland (Labour, Kippax and Methley), added:

“Since Arriva announced their bus service changes and cuts we have been inundated by local people who have felt the impact of these changes from pensioners in Methley who no longer have a regular service to people in Kippax who have had to give up jobs because they can no longer commute reliably to work.

"With residents we are launching petitions to show the strength of local feeling that the recently cut services should be restored.”

In a statement provided to the YEP, Arriva confirmed the decision was not one taken lightly, but after a detailed review carried out alongside WYCA, they decided it was needed to sustain the network long term.

A spokesperson, said: “We know how important our bus network is to communities in Kippax and Methley and the decision to make changes to services is not one we take lightly.

“Unfortunately, a combination of reduced passenger numbers since the pandemic and higher operational costs mean that some of our services are no longer economically viable and have been run at a loss for some time despite government recovery funding.”

The reasons behind the decision have been criticised by Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, who called on locals to sign the petitions after describing the cuts as “unacceptable” and “profit-driven” decisions.

Mayor Brabin, said: “I’ve been clear that Arriva’s cuts to bus services across West Yorkshire are unacceptable, and I was glad to haul them to a meeting with Kippax and Methley councillors so they could answer to the local community directly.

“These cuts were announced due to a possible reduction in funding from Government. Yet working with other Northern Mayors I was able to protect bus operators’ funding. There is therefore no justification for these damaging and profit-driven decisions.”

First Bus recently came under fire for the cancellation and alteration of a host of city services.