►► On the final Sunday of the Dalesbus 2013 summer season, Stephensons of Easingwold's Volvo B10B Wright Endurance J6 SOE passes the site of The Coldstones Cut after making the climb out of Pateley Bridge on its way to Grassington on Dalesbus service 812. Picture by John Penn◀◀
North Yorkshire County Council has carried out its threat to slash most of its tendered bus network.
Councillors agreed £2 million worth of cuts, more than was originally planned, reports Paul Salveson, who has alerted public transport users to a 2014 Beeching on the Buses.
“While it is tempting to have a go at backwoods North Yorkshire Tory councillors, you do have to sympathise with them to a point,” said Paul who is a professor at Huddersfield University.
“Like most other northern authorities they are facing swingeing cuts across the board.
“Labour-controlled Cumbria County Council is planning to slash its entire tendered network. Worcestershire is planning similar reductions.”
Paul added: “The issue is not a local one. We are seeing the devastation of the rural bus network across much of the country and the Government should not hide behind weasel words about ‘local decisions’.
“And it isn’t just ‘rural’ – evening and Sunday services are at risk in many urban areas. Once evening services start to disappear there is a risk that people lose confidence in the day-time service and make other arrangements. The inexorable decline continues.
“If we are to have any sort of national bus network that not only addresses social exclusion but also promotes rural tourism, concerted action is required.
“It is not just about money, though some bus support should be ring-fenced. It is also about being more imaginative in how we promote and market bus services.
“Back in the 1990s rural rail services were facing real problems, with falling ridership and lack of political interest. The community rail initiative – a combination of both national and local action – not only stemmed the decline but led to a renaissance.
“Could something similar work for the buses? I think it could but it needs that combination of national action, involving Government, operators, local authorities, passenger organisations and campaign groups with some good local examples of what can be achieved.
“It is encouraging that some passenger transport executives and local authorities are already exploring some fresh approaches. Merseytravel is developing a pilot scheme on the C7 route in inner-city Liverpool. Holy Cross school is closely involved in the project. And initial results so far are very positive.
“South Yorkshire is also exploring similar approaches. The potential for applying ‘deep community rail’ approaches with buses is considerable. In some ways the potential is greater with scope for doing more with dedicated staff and vehicles, through to community-run bus services in some cases.
“But we need to be quick, otherwise there will be no ‘peripheral’ bus services left to rescue. Something must be done.”
Paul is writing to his MP. Others could do likewise.
Paul's website
Dales Bus