More than 850 people have signed a petition protesting about changes to a bus route.

Extra buses have been added to the 645 Buttershaw to Greengates service through the city centre and Ravenscliffe, allowing it to run every ten minutes during weekdays.

But at Greengates, the First Bradford service now terminates at Redcar Road and no longer serves the New Line, Harrogate Road and Rimswell Holt loop.

Protesters have organised a public meeting to discuss the changes, which will be at the Gateway Centre in Ravenscliffe on Monday at 6.30pm.

Councillor Ruth Billheimer (Lab, Eccleshill) said the changes were “causing a great deal of inconvenience to everybody”.

She said: “Depending on where you live there is a choice between walking a long way – too far for anybody disabled, or elderly, or who has a pram – or they have to wait longer for the buses that are available.”

She said she felt passengers had not been adequately consulted on the plans, which she described as having been a “fait accompli” by the time residents were informed.

Councillor Chris Greaves, chairman of West Yorkshire’s Integrated Transport Authority, Metro, is expected to attend the meeting and Coun Billheimer said she hoped a representative from First would also attend.

Greengates resident Linda Morgan, 62, said: “It has affected me and lots of other people.

“People living on the senior citizens’ complex on Harrogate Road have to walk about five or ten minutes to pick their bus up.

“My friend has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and she struggles now as well. I cannot see the logic in it.”

A First spokesman said: “We have recently made a number of changes to our services in Bradford which has resulted in extremely positive feedback from local communities.

“Among these changes has been increasing the frequency of buses on the 645 service to ensure buses are running every 10 minutes Monday to Friday.”

The spokesman said other services and nearby bus stops now served the area affected by the changes.

He added: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused to the small number of passengers that used to use this service and hope they realise that we have tried to make positive changes that satisfy the majority of our customers, “We will, of course, listen to any positive suggestions that can be made on how we can run a successful commercial bus operation to this area.”

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