COUNCILLORS have criticised a bus company for imposing changes to services they say will leave residents on a Bradford estate stranded for two months.

First is diverting buses away from the Ravenscliffe estate for eight weeks starting on Monday, due to road surfacing works in Ranelagh Avenue.

The company said the diversion, which has been set up to avoid roadworks in a new housing area built by Keepmoat, was essential for services to run safely, but ward councillors have criticised it as the "easy option."

Councillor Geoff Reid (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said while the roadworks were operational, the 645 service would divert from its normal route encompassing Ravenscliffe Avenue and Damon Avenue, instead running directly via Rookwith Parade to Redcar Road.

He has written to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) in protest.

"I am sorry that First have demonstrated such a lack of imagination over the diversion plans," said Cllr Reid.

"Once again they have opted for an easy solution which denies Ravenscliffe a bus service for eight weeks.

"This really is unacceptable and we will do all we can to publicise what First are doing.

"Personally, I would have gone for a split in the service, with alternate buses operating to Redcar Road and Damon Avenue on a temporary timetable."

Councillor Ann Wallace (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said: "We have been here before.

"In spite of all the conversations involving councillors, Metro, contractors, and the bus company, when push comes to shove, First are prepared to go for what they see as the easy option, regardless of the impact on Ravenscliffe residents."

Councillor Nicola Pollard (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) added: "Obviously we want to see the Ranelagh Avenue road surface repaired following a major construction operation, and we look forward to the contractors doing a good job but there has to be a better way of coping than leaving the whole estate without buses for two months."

A spokesman for First insisted the planned diversion was the "preferred and safest option".

"We have to consider safety as our first priority," said the spokesman.

"In our opinion, the diversion we are operating is the safest one we can put in place.

"We aim to minimise disruption for customers, but we have to take safety into account.

"We believe the right option is in place while the roadworks are ongoing. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but we are in the hands of the contractors.

"We will monitor the situation on an ongoing basis, and if we can find a better solution we will do, this is not a closed position."

A spokesman for the WYCA said it had attended site meetings with First and been informed of the diversion, adding the operator had said it would not be able to use some of the junctions on the estate without posing a safety risk.

The spokesman added that a proposal for Keepmoat to fund a shuttle bus service around the Ravenscliffe estate was being considered, but no decision had yet been made.