Ukip’s North Yorkshire county councillors have supported a move to have a controversial £2m cut in bus subsidies – approved by the authority’s executive – called in.
County Couns Sam Cross (Filey) and David Simister (Harrogate, Bilton and Nidd Gorge) are two of seven councillors calling on the Conservative-run authority to re-examine their decision.
The pair say the cuts will leave many living in rural locations totally isolated and have a detrimental impact on both the elderly and the young across the county.
Coun Simister said: This week it was reported that county councillors had voted for this £2m million reduction in bus subsidies, well myself, Coun Cross and the others who have backed this ‘call in’ certainly didn’t.
We know the county council is under huge financial pressure, but there are other areas that should be considered first, such as abandoning the proposed incinerator at Allerton Park.
Coun Cross said: The level of cuts in bus subsidies are extremely worrying. We don’t believe the executive has considered the full impact these cuts will have across many parts on North Yorkshire, that is why we are supporting the calling in of this decision.
In addition to Couns Simister and Cross, the call in – led by Richmondshire independent councillor Stuart Parsons – has been backed by Liberal councillors John Savage and John Clark, and North Yorkshire independent councillors Helen Grant and Peter Horton.
