TRANSPORT bosses are to increase York's bendy-bus fleet by a third in a bid to ensure easy access to Park&Ride over the summer school holidays.

Peter Edwards, commercial manager at First, has confirmed that another three of the buses will be brought into service around the end of July - taking the bendy-bus fleet to nine.

The three vehicles, which cost about £200,000 each and can hold up to 170 people, will be stationed at Rawcliffe Bar.

Mr Edwards said the extra buses had been agreed following consultation with City of York Council.

The company, based in James Street, is anxious to avoid a repeat of last year's holiday period where commuters faced long delays to board Park&Ride services as buses could not cope with the demand.

Although the current bendy-bus fleet has alleviated concerns and has been popular among passengers since being introduced in April, Mr Edwards said the company was determined to ensure supply met demand.

Mr Edwards said: "We are encouraged by the growth of the business. It is a good position to be in.

"We are planning for increasing demand and Park&Ride is continuing to grow as is the city network.

"We are anxious to ensure we provide sufficient capacity during the busy summer school holidays.

"The bendy-buses are very popular and they are the most efficient way of moving the sort of numbers of people that we have to transport at the moment. They are highly visible and most people like them."

Ann Reid, City of York Council's executive member for transport, said she welcomed the addition to the fleet.

"It is important that the Park&Ride service is efficient and gives people a service that they want," she said.

"As long as the bendy-buses can be accommodated within the city, this seems to be a good move on behalf of First to increase capacity."

Updated: 08:46 Friday, July 04, 2003