HUDDERSFIELD’S popular free bus service around the town centre is safe for another year.
Funding guaranteed by Kirklees Council means the service, popular with elderly shoppers and students, can continue as it is.
The news was confirmed as Metro chiefs agreed to bring in a 50p fare on the service in Leeds.
At a meeting yesterday, the West Yorkshire's Integrated Transport Authority Executive Board gave the go-ahead for the Leeds FreeCityBus to be replaced with a LeedsCityBus service with a 50p flat fare for each journey.
Metro has stepped in to organise the trial in response to widespread concerns about the possible axing of the FreeCityBus service, due to funding cuts, and the many public comments by people saying they would be willing to pay to use it.
Passengers will be charged 50p per journey and while the exact fare will help minimise delays, change will be given.
A Metro spokesman said: “There will obviously be concerns about what is happening elsewhere but the Kirklees services are to continue as they are.
“Kirklees Council has guaranteed funding for the next 12 months which means the Huddersfield service and the one in Dewsbury will be running as they have been for some time”.
The Huddersfield service links stops such as St George’s Square, the bus station and the University.
