Pensioner groups in Bradford have hit out at warnings that some bus services in the district could be scrapped as part of cost cutting measures.

Bradford’s free shuttle bus is among services outlined in a report on spending cuts, which is set to go before councillors at Metro, the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, tomorrow.

Other areas where savings could be made include the AccessBus and early-morning, late-night and Sunday bus services. Concessionary fares for young people may also be reconsidered while Cleckheaton bus station may be closed.

Peter Raistrick, of Neighbourly Care Bradford, said: “If it’s the elderly they know they are on safe ground because they won’t fight back. I am sure there will be cuts one way or another, it’s bound to happen. Anything that they can save money on they will do. Whichever way you look at it, it will have a negative effect on older people. People have had to fight for the City bus and the AccessBus but they can’t fight the cuts.”

John Mawdesley, transport spokesman for Bradford Older People’s Alliance, said: “Whatever services are cut will cause problems to some people. I think the aim is to try and make the cuts as painless as possible and affect as few people as possible.

“I think cutting the free City bus would be unfortunate because of the sheer volume of people using it. Right from day one it was achieving four times its target. With the AccessBus it’s going to mean the vulnerable people in society are going to be hit hardest.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) has branded the possibility of shutting the town’s bus station as “stupid and irresponsible”.

She said: “I am absolutely amazed that Metro could be so irresponsible to consider taking such action.

“They need to look more closely at some of the overheads that they have before they even begin to think of reducing the service to the public.”

Metro chairman Councillor Chris Greaves (Con, Wharfedale) said: “We fully realise that cuts will have to be made in all areas of the public sector including Metro, and I am pleased to see in the same report the high levels of efficiency that the passenger transport executive is already delivering and the measures it is taking to achieve further savings.

“We will however need to look very closely at the impact on the individuals and communities where real cuts to services fall.”