A HOPPER bus which links the Birkby and Bradley community with vital amenities is to be scrapped this summer.

The MetroLocal service ML4 currently provides links for people to get to shops, post offices, supermarkets and community centres on routes not served by regular buses.

But despite more than 100 passengers a week travelling on the ML4 it will be scrapped in July.

The service, operated by Mount Taxis, has been running six days a week between 9.30am and 5pm.

Its circular route takes in Wasp Nest Road, Fartown Green Road, Keldregate, Bradley Road,

Bradford Road, Asda at Brackenhall and Cobcroft Road, Birkby.

The service has in the past been subsidised by Kirklees Council via local area committee contributions.

But Metro representative Fiona Whitehead, who met with residents in the Ashbrow council ward last week, has advised anyone who is affected by the removal of the service to consider the AccessBus service which is a door-to-door service for which is free to register.

She said: “Anyone who will be displaced by the removal of the ML4 can pay £1 a trip on the Access bus instead of £3. Those over 60 or disabled will still have free travel.

“The AccessBus does a trip to Huddersfield and trip to the nearest local supermarket on certain days.

“It doesn’t give as much flexibility, so it may be that you previously shopped on a Friday but the slot for the trip in your area is a Wednesday.”

Clr Cath Harris said she had received two letters from residents concerned about the scrapping of the service.

The change is part of a wider review of bus operations in Huddersfield.

AccessBus is open to all passengers aimed at providing a service to local destinations for people of limited mobility.

It is currently available to anyone living in Kirklees.

A spokesman for Metro said: “The review aims to obtain best value for money from publicly-funded bus services.

“A ‘core network’ of routes in each area of West Yorkshire has been identified, which will be provided by operators without financial support from Metro. Other services may see a reduced timetable.”

For more information about Access Bus call 0113 3481903 between 7.30am and 4pm.