I would like to clear up an issue which appeared in your report about recent bus service changes (June 28) regarding public subsidy of the number 19 bus service.

When Monks Cross Shopping Park opened in 1998, the council secured funds from the developers to pump prime bus services into Monks Cross. Some of this money was used to provide an hourly service between Monks Cross, Haxby and Clifton Moor. First York achieved this by making the service 19 a circular service.

The funding from Monks Cross ended earlier this year, however the Council has provided £15,000 from its own budgets to maintain an hourly service between Monks Cross, Haxby and Clifton Moor now known as the Y8.

To improve its reliability, First York decided to break the 19 circle into three separate services.

It would be incorrect therefore to attribute complaints about recent bus service changes to a reduction in public subsidy for the number 19.

Dave Pearson

Principal Transport Planner (Operations)

Directorate of Environment & Development Services

City of York Council