CUTS in bus services which are leaving Burley and Menston people stranded are to be investigated by parish councillors.

Services operated by bus company First were altered on April 27, and while the frequency of some services in the area was increased, others were cut.

Councillor Caroline Jones says the loss of the First service 733 has made life difficult for people living in Burley and Menston.

She told Monday's parish council meeting: "A large number of the residents of Holme and Burley are not being catered for. There are no buses running along Bradford Road at all.

"That's a large part of the population that is no longer able to go through to Horsforth, Kirkstall and that route.

"They can catch one to the centre of Leeds, but it's not quite the same route."

First replied to earlier concerns from the parish council about Ilkley and Burley children getting to and from St Mary's Catholic Comprehen-sive in Menston - which was on the route served by the 733. First said the pupils have been taken into account, and a coach company is now operating a school bus service for students of St Mary's.

Parish councillors were worried that the loss of the 733 service would mean that children would have to find alternative forms of transport for getting to and from school.

But Coun Jones asked the parish council to take up the case of those residents who have been inconvenienced by the bus changes.

Parish council chairman, Mike Gibbons, said he would like to hear the opinions of Ilkley, Burley and Menston residents who feel they have been affected by the recent changes in bus services.

"I'm aware of the inconvenience caused. It's all very well to say the train is there, but it's not always convenient," he said.

Alterations in services include the loss of the 733 service, the addition of a W8 service to Menston - which connects with a service travelling on to Leeds - and the addition of an extra daytime weekday X84 service between Ilkley and Leeds via Otley.

The X84 route has now gained an extra bus, to operate the service half-hourly on Sundays.

A number of buses in the Ilkley, Burley and Menston area have been rescheduled.

Coun Gibbons would like anyone with views on the new services and timetables to contact the parish council.

Details of bus services are available by calling West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Metro, on (0113) 2457676, or visiting the Metro website at www.wymetro.com.