A COUNCILLOR says commuters and pupils will be hit hard after an operator’s decision to cut a ‘lifeline’ bus service.

First is to stop operating the 256 connecting Brighouse and Bradford via Cleckheaton, East Bierley and Tong Street. First says its contract to operate the 256 service ends in October, adding it decided not to bid for the contract again to ‘ensure we can reliably run the rest of our network’.

Councillor Matt Edwards (Green, Tong) has criticised this move by the firm.

He said: "Buses are a vital lifeline for many people.

“We have to accept not everyone drives; in fact the communities along Tong Street have some of the lowest car ownership rates in Bradford.

For people living in my ward, the 256 not only provides another rush hour service into Bradford, but gives people the option of a direct bus to Brighouse and Cleckheaton. The removal of this service will hit commuters and pupils particularly hard

"Transport for the North released figures showing across the north, millions are being socially excluded due to poor public transport connections and this is a prime example of that in action.

“The government and the Mayor of West Yorkshire really needs to do much more to push operators to run their service.

“The £2 cap on bus fares introduced earlier this month is hugely welcome but it’s no good having cheap fares for buses that don’t exist.

“The Green Party is calling for a genuine affordable bus revolution in England.”

A First Bradford spokesman said: “The 256 is a contract operated on behalf of the Combined Authority which ends in October and is not a commercial service reduction.

“We have looked carefully at our overall position including driver numbers and taken the decision not to bid again to ensure we can reliably run the rest of our network with the staffing resources available.

“We shared our proposed changes to this service with the Combined Authority in the spirit of transparency and partnership working, providing as much advance notice as possible to allow time for discussion and to seek alternative arrangements. We understand this is still being explored.

“There are also alternative services from other operators available along this route for commuters and schoolchildren.

“We would like to thank all of our customers who have travelled with us over the years and our driving team who have served them on the 256 service.”

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