LOCAL Labour and Co-operative Councillor, Eleanor Thomson is warning of disastrous cuts to bus services if the Government fails to extend vital funding in the spring.

Last autumn many Labour Councillors campaigned alongside Mayor Tracy Brabin and Labour’s Northern Mayors to secure a six month extension of the “Bus Recovery Grant” – a financial lifeline for bus operators to keep services running after the pandemic.

However, three months on, the Government has failed to guarantee that this emergency funding will continue after March, putting essential services in the region at risk, said Cllr Thomson (Guiseley and Rawdon Ward), who added that while bus patronage has recovered more quickly in West Yorkshire than other areas, reaching over 80% of pre-pandemic levels and 100% amongst young people, this recovery will be put under threat if Government withdraws its funding prematurely.

She said that in the local area vital services such as the 27, 33 and 34 could be at risk of reduced frequency, being cut short or even scrapped altogether. She said: "They are already unreliable, and subject to frequent short notice cancellations. Previously proposed cuts, held off by last minute funding and now threatened again, would have cut off parts of Westfield in Yeadon entirely from its only bus route. This is totally unacceptable.

"Customer complaints are all too often ignored or dismissed and residents are struggling to get to work, school, college, important appointments and more. Passengers are tired of excuses."

Cllr Thomson added: “I support the Labour Mayor in her recent announcements working to get more people using buses and protect the network from cuts. The “Mayor’s Fares”, launched in September, capped the cost of journeys at £2 and the price of an MCard “DaySaver” ticket at £4.50 cutting fares for passengers in our area.

"But while our successful campaign for funding saved services from the axe last Autumn, operators are warning that without further, sustainable funding from Government they will be forced to make further cuts this spring.

"As your local Councillor I am joining forces with local residents and the Mayor to demand that Government honour their promise to “Bus Back Better” and deliver “great bus services for everyone, everywhere.”

Tracy Brabin, the Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Thanks to deregulation and a decade of decline, over 5,000 bus routes have been lost in England since the Conservatives came to power. Here in West Yorkshire, Labour in power is turning the tide – we’re slashing bus fares, recruiting more drivers, and investing in new routes and services.

“But if the Government fails to meet us halfway, then our bus network will be on its knees before it’s had a fair chance to recover, and local people will be left to pick up the pieces.

“I support Councillor Eleanor Thomson in calling on Government to back our buses, and I stand by my decision to look at bringing buses back under public control, so that we can protect our routes and services in future.”