UNHAPPY residents will get the chance to quiz transport chiefs next week over the withdrawal of a popular bus service.

The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the Acomb Ward committee, which will be attended by bus company representatives.

The 16a service, which provided a link between Acomb and Monks Cross, was axed by bus company First last autumn, prompting a flurry of angry letters from disgruntled residents.

City councillors have been battling on behalf of residents to try to get the service reinstated.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing said people had come to rely on the service and were told it was working well, only for it to be withdrawn at short notice with no explanation.

Coun Simpson-Laing, the Labour opposition transport spokesperson on City of York Council, said: "Coun David Horton and I have been receiving so many letters and phone calls on this subject that we were determined local people should have a say on the decision."

Coun David Horton said: "There is a lot of local anger that this service was withdrawn without any consultation. I would urge any concerned residents to come along to this meeting to quiz the bus company on why they withdrew this service and to find out what can be done to reinstate it."

But First commercial manager Peter Edwards said the service was withdrawn because it struggled to keep to the timetable.

Mr Edwards said: "The original intention of the service was to provide a link from Beckfield Lane and Boroughbridge Road to the centre of Acomb.

"That is what people campaigned for and that is what we gave them.

"We have existing services which maintain this link, it was just fortuitous that the original service happened to go to Monks Cross."

All local residents are invited to the public meeting, which will take place next Tuesday at Lidgett Grove Methodist Church Hall, at 7.30pm.

Updated: 12:32 Tuesday, April 12, 2005