Huddersfield bus cut proposals: Colne Valley, Almondbury & more - full details here

FIFTEEN bus journeys in Huddersfield could be withdrawn.

And there could be changes to others as part of a review of bus operations in Huddersfield.

Colne Valley villages as well as Almondbury, Thurstonland, Farnley Tyas and Stocksmoor stand to be the most affected by the review by Metro, the public transport body responsible for many bus services.

Metro is to take a close look at bus services for which it provides funding.

But proposals unveiled show some Sunday and evening services are being axed, other journeys could be withdrawn and some re-routed as part of the proposals.

Clr Andrew Pinnock, who sits on the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, said: “I don’t think people need to panic about this.

“Everybody has the opportunity to have their say in what services are needed.

“That isn’t to say it will happen but it’s a great opportunity for people to talk about unmet need and to encourage the bus operators to stick their necks out a bit.”

A public consultation will take place until April 4 with any changes coming into force on October 27 after contracts have been awarded in July.

A review of operations in North Kirklees will begin in May.

But Metro says the services could continue as before if bus operators fund the journeys themselves.

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.”

Clr Pinnock added: “I do support the idea that Metro should not be supporting journeys at the beginning and end of each day on routes that are quite profitable.

“It seems bonkers to me if the bus company is making money on the rest of the day they should surely use that profit to support morning and evening journeys.

“It’s also all well and good people saying there should be a bus service, but they’ve got to use it. How on earth do you finance it if people don’t use it”?

Services which could be hit

182 Huddersfield – Blackmoorfoot: 6.40am Saturday service withdrawn due to low passenger use.

182 Huddersfield – Marsden Hard End : 10.50pm and its return journey at 11.27pm withdrawn. (Metro will take up the funding for the 182 7.15pm and 7.56pm Huddersfield to Marsden Hard End).

183 Huddersfield Marsden Hard End, via Linthwaite Church: 6.55am journey withdrawn.

185/186 Huddersfield – Marsden Dirker: 6am service withdrawn. (Metro ceases funding of the 6.50pm, 7.50pm and 7.25pm services and Sunday services but they will be run commercially).

303 last Scapegoat Hill service: will leave Huddersfield at 6.30pm Monday to Saturday and 5pm on Sundays.

306 Pink Line withdrawn: 5.14am Taylor Hill-Huddersfield, 6am, 8.55am, 9.55am, 10.55am and 11pm Taylor Hill Circular withdrawn.

321 Huddersfield – Marten Nest Meltham: eight Sunday services withdrawn. Hourly service remains, run commercially.

336 and 337 Huddersfield – Beaumont Park: circular evening and Sunday service withdrawn.

340 – Huddersfield – Almondbury: under review, no more details.

341 Huddersfield, Almondbury, Farnley Tyas, Thurstonland, Stocksmoor : evening journeys withdrawn – 7.55pm, 9.55pm, 11pm, return – 7.20pm, 8.28pm, 10.28pm and 11pm.

342 Huddersfield – Almondbury: Circular under review, no more details.

346 Huddersfield – Wilberlee: evening and Sunday service withdrawn due to low passenger use.

353 Huddersfield – Longwood: evening and Sunday service withdrawn, but Metro says parts of the route will be served be other services.

ML4 Birkby/Bradley circular: withdrawn from July due to low passenger use.

ML6 Almondbury/Waterloo circular : withdrawn from July due to low passenger use.

Routes from Huddersfield towards Clayton West via Lepton, Kirkburton and Skelmanthorpe, Denby Dale, are not due to be reviewed until 2015. Others which operate without Metro funding do not form part of the review.

See the next page for a list of public meetings about the proposed cuts.

BUS passengers have been urged to get involved in talks over the future of services.

Metro, who have announced a review, are holding a public consultation.

They have planned a series of meetings across Huddersfield with staff available to answer questions.

The meetings are:

Saturday 3 March: 10am–midday, Longwood Mechanics Hall

Tuesday 6 March: 10am–5pm, Milnsbridge Village Hall

Wednesday 7 March: 9.30am–6.30pm, Huddersfield Bus Station

Thursday 8 March: 9am–4pm Holmfirth Market Hall

Saturday 10 March: 9am – 5pm, Huddersfield Bus Station

Monday 12 March: 2pm – 5.30pm, Almondbury Library

Friday 16 March: 10am-5.30pm, Slaithwaite Civic Hall