Mayor meets bus operators to discuss better service

A mayor has said public transport services in North Yorkshire "aren't good enough" as he met with local bus operators to discuss improvements.

York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith has officially assumed control of buses in North Yorkshire, with the Combined Authority last month approving plans aimed at integrating the region's transport system.

Skaith said he was also trying to extend the £1 fare cap for under-19s across North Yorkshire, and invest in rural services.

"We're getting operators around the table to discuss the best route forward for buses - services aren't good enough," said Skaith, ahead of the meeting.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "The challenge comes down to making it work in different areas that have different problems."

"Places like York and Harrogate need more consistent services, whereas harder-to-reach rural areas need buses that are more frequent and reliable," Skaith said.

Skaith also met with sixth form students at Scarborough University Technical College (UTC) on Tuesday, alongside Scarborough and Whitby's MP, Alison Hume.

Students shared their concerns about public transport, with many complaining that buses were often late and that a lack of regular services discouraged them from staying in the area.

Many of the students also said fewer services in the evenings left them reliant on more expensive trains, or taxis, asking lifts from family, or having to walk home alone from part-time jobs.

Skaith said having better services late at night and early in the morning was "a really big part and focus of what we've been looking at".

He said he also wanted to work with other mayors, such as Ben Houchen in Tees Valley, to "buy into each other's transport systems".

He added: "Our people and businesses don't care about borders, they want to be able to get to work, or to get hospital appointments up into James Cook.

"So we need to, as mayors and combined authorities, stop thinking about those borders and to work across borders."

Hume said she was "very excited that the mayor will be taking over running of the buses going forward", adding it was "very important to hear the views of young people".

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.