Julian has raised concerns over the future of rural bus services in the House of Commons ahead of more meetings on the issue in Parliament this week.
Speaking during an Adjournment Debate, he expressed concerns about the level of community engagement with the recent North Yorkshire County Council consultation.
He also raised the ongoing discussions about the future of home to school transport for Upper Wharfedale School and Nidderdale High School.
The Debate was called by Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh.
Mr Smith said:
“…I believe that North Yorkshire county council could have consulted much more with the communities of which she talks. I urge her to urge the council to talk more to the people.”
He then went onto say, to Transport Minister Robert Goodwill:
“Does the Minister agree that this is a difficult matter for schools such as Upper Wharfedale and Nidderdale High, which rely on children being sent by parents who are out of the catchment area? Public subsidy is needed for those parents and children, yet the council is ripping those services and that subsidy away, causing big trouble for those highly rural schools.”
The full debate can be found at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140210/deb…
