Please find below an update on Julian's work on Pennine buses which he has sent to constituents:
This morning I met with North Yorkshire County Council in Northallerton and I represented the many issues that you and others have raised with me about the demise of Pennine buses and the Council’s replacement bus service.
I outlined the impact the current reduced timetable is having on jobs, hospital visits, charity work, education, health and social isolation and I made the case for an immediate review of the current temporary timetable, particularly regarding return journeys back from Skipton at the end of the day.
We also discussed capacity, access for the disabled and the problem for places like Malham where unfilled seats on school bus services are not being made available to other users.
Finally, I asked that the County looks at how it might bridge the funding gap for commercial operators such as Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire who want to bid for some routes but who need funding to get their proposed service off the ground.
The Council has assured me that they will be looking at revising the current timetable over the coming weeks, having taken on board community views. They also informed me that they are meeting with Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire this week to see if the company’s proposal can be made to work.
If there are other issues you would like to raise with me beyond what you have already communicated, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
I will of course continue to keep you updated on this issue.
Yours sincerely
Julian Smith MP