BUS cuts will leave up to 21,000 potential passengers high and dry on just two services, council bosses in North Yorkshire were warned today (Tuesday, December 8).

The cuts are part of a major overhaul which will see half a million pounds axed from subsidised bus services this year, coming on top of £2 million which was slashed from subsidies last year.

More than 1,200 people objected to the changes during a consultation, but members of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive committee agreed the cuts should go ahead at today's meeting.

Members were told one of the worst hit areas would be on routes between Northallerton and Richmond.

Mike Alexander, chairman of Kirkby Fleetham Parish Council, said: "Changing the 54 service so it only runs between Kirkby Fleetham and Northallerton means 21,000 people will be cut off from services.

"There has been no breakdown of the data, on how many people travel each week, we only know that 33,000 are travelling every year.

"To make these decisions without any information on passenger numbers is bizarre in the extreme."

Mr Alexander said passengers in Catterick, Colburn and Catterick Garrison would be particularly badly hit.

Cllr Arthur Barker asked if further consideration could be given to looking at the service. But Assistant Director for Integrated Passenger Transport Richard Owens said services between Northallerton and Richmond would be continuing, with changes.

“It is misleading to say we haven’t got the information on use," he said. "We can have another look at it but without putting more money in there isn’t an easy solution.”

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for transport, said the council is still spending £1.5 million subsidising buses and £8 million on the concessionary fare scheme for pensioners.

"The authority is facing budget cuts of £167 million up to 2020 with £91 million already axed from services. In the past four years more than £4.55 million has been cut from the budget for bus subsidies."

Cllr Mackenzie said many previously subsidised services had now become commercial services and work was being done with the bus companies and community transport schemes to limit the effects.

He said they also wanted to give more support to services which reduce isolation.

“Up to 85 per cent of routes are run at no cost to the taxpayer. We are inviting the two transport ministers in North Yorkshire to talks in relation to services.

"Bus operators have embraced the need to provide more with less,” he added.