Readers give their views on planned cuts to bus services in Kirklees

May 23 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

READERS have given the Examiner their reactions to sweeping bus cuts announced this week.

We revealed on Thursday that 22 routes could be affected under a shake-up planned by operators First, Arriva and Centrebus.

Some bus routes are undergoing minor timetable changes, while others are being scaled back or cut altogether.

The changes affect routes all over Kirklees, including Huddersfield and the Holme and Colne Valleys.

Most changes will start on July 19.

To see the full list of services affected, go to www.examiner.co.uk and type ‘bus cuts’ into the search box.

Operators say they have had to take action because of rising costs and the fact that routes are not generating enough business to be viable.

They say the recession has made things even more difficult.

Operator First and Metro are set to have talks about the proposed cuts on June 5 at Huddersfield Town Hall.

The meeting will be open to the public and will start at 2pm.

It looks set to be a heated debate, as Metro – which co-ordinates public transport in West Yorkshire – has already slammed the decision to make such major changes to bus services.

Lindley councillor Tony Brice, one of Kirklees Council’s representative on Metro, said: “I’m furious and I’m trying to do something about it.

“The scale of the cuts now forecast is totally unacceptable and there’s no way Metro can fund replacement services – that’s completely out of the question.”

From the letters flooding into the Examiner email and postbag, it seems many of our readers are also furious.

Many have told us they rely heavily on bus services and cuts will have a major impact on their lives.

Here’s what some of them had to say:

LIVING in Flockton and not having my own transport would mean my life would be destroyed if Centrebus axed my service, which is the 232.

I work in Leeds and travel to Wakefield each day on this service.

I would have no choice but to leave a job that I love and wouldn’t be in a position to seek new employment, being stranded in the village.

This news is a big blow for me after I was made redundant last year and have worked hard to get my life back together.

I now have a good job which I certainly don’t want to leave.

I’m currently saving for driving lessons and my own transport, but in this economic climate it’s not easy.

SUSAN CROWTHER

Flockton

THE news in your paper this week that First Bus are going to reduce the service 181 to Slaithwaite and Wilberlee came as no surprise.

Just over a year ago, Metro officers informed Slaithwaite residents that although they were losing the Taxibus service, they were gaining a twice hourly service via Cowlersley, provided by First. This was touted as fair compensation by the Metro officers.

At the time, residents greeted the news with a degree of suspicion and commented that on past performance, First would change their minds within a year.

The complete lack of commitment by First to this service has been apparent from the beginning.

The daily struggle as women with push-chairs struggled to get on double decked buses probably sold on by Halifax Corporation in the early 1970’s has been shameful to watch. The opportunity of travelling on a modern buggy friendly bus has been rare on this route.

Perhaps, if First had improved their vehicles and trained their drivers, then more people would use their services.

I make the comment on the lack of training as I am recovering from a bruising trip back on the 181 today.

Our prayer must be that First does not revert to form and reduce the service even more.

TONY BOWERS

Slaithwaite

I READ with trepidation of plans to tamper with the Arriva 80 bus route.

This is now the only service within easy walking distance of residents living on lower Rowley Lane, between Lepton and Fenay Bridge and is now only an hourly daytime service.

Many elderly and infirm person would sorely miss this service.

MR G T ELSEY

Fenay Bridge