Mayoral candidate Keane Duncan has pledged to step in to overturn bus cuts approved by City of York Council’s Labour leadership.
Keane said he will release funds to protect at-risk services in his first week if he is elected as York & North Yorkshire’s first elected Mayor.
Amongst the most controversial of the cuts is the axing of the Flaxman Croft Loop in Copmanthorpe, a significant change to Service 13 that sparked a 400-strong petition. This would be protected as a result of Keane’s intervention.
Cutbacks and changes to a total of 10 routes are due to come into force from June 2 after the council’s Labour Executive voted last month in support of the cost-saving measures.
Keane has now offered a reprieve to services, saying he will step in to offer the estimated £200,000 the council are seeking to save from a review of the city’s bus network.
He said: “If elected as Mayor in May, I will release the funds needed to stop the cuts, including the controversial axing of the Flaxman Croft Loop in Copmanthorpe.
“Passengers can be assured this will happen in my first week.
“By doing this, I will ensure all at-risk services in York are protected until at least 2025, the point when we secure a new, £380m transport settlement from central government.
“Stopping these cuts would allow the new combined authority time to consider the needs of York and North Yorkshire’s whole bus network and agree a new investment plan.
“This would put us in the strongest possible position to not only protect, but expand, bus services across both York and North Yorkshire into the future.”
