A HUGE hike in bus fares which caused outrage across York has been taken to the very top of Government.

City MP Hugh Bayley has held a meeting with Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, after bus company First imposed hefty price increases at the beginning of this month.

Now he has taken the issue to the Houses of Parliament, and wants to secure a debate to try and increase the power local councils have to regulate bus fares.

First made it an unhappy New Year for its 30,000 daily passengers when it decided to increase single and return tickets in a bid to force commuters to buy weekly, monthly and new ten- journey pre-booked tickets.

Some children's fares increased by as much as 75 per cent, and monthly tickets jumped from £20 to £30 - a rise which was branded "disgraceful" by the Centre For Separated Families, a York-based charity which represents hard-up single parents. Mr Bayley said he had asked Geoff Hoon, the Leader of the House of Commons, whether it was possible to secure a debate "about local bus services".

He took the step after receiving "a number" of letters of complaint from constituents, who were particularly concerned about the increases in fares for children.

Since bus services were deregulated in the 1980s, bus companies have been able to set the number of services they provide as well as the prices they charge. Mr Bayley told the Commons that many parts of the country, including York, had a situation where there was a monopoly - with the majority of services provided by a single operator.

The MP told the Evening Press: "Mr Hoon said he would refer the request to the Secretary of State (Alistair Darling). I have had a meeting with Mr Darling about the York fares. His (Mr Darling's) concern is that if you regulate all fares you could end up with local government footing the bill for all fare reductions.

"Local government needs to be involved. We need to regulate profit levels and ask bus companies to submit their fare proposals to the local authority.

"First has introduced some steep rises - or no rises for some age groups - to encourage people to pre-purchase season tickets. The local authority should have in mind maximising the use of the bus and I believe it should have some say. First should publish the profit it makes on its York business and consult over its fare rising policy."

First operates 22 services throughout York and the surrounding area.

Peter Edwards, First's commercial director, said he did not think Mr Bayley's intervention was "particularly helpful", and was unrepentant over fare rises.

"It is clear there isn't a full understanding of how much it costs to provide a bus service. People have a perception that it ought to be cheaper than it is," he said.

"We are a commercial business and we have only one way of covering our considerable costs, and that is through the revenue we collect."

The increases

BUS company First increased its fares on January 1. Under the new structure, a First Day ticket rose from £2.50 to £3, and a one zone single increased from 60p to £1.

A First Week ticket was increased by £1 from £11 to £12. For children, a single now costs £1 (a 66 per cent increase). A First Day ticket rose from £1.20 to £2. A First Month ticket increased from £20 to £30.

We asked passengers what they thought of the bus fare rises

BERYL McCAPPIN, 60, of Leeman Road, said: "It doesn't affect me because I've just turned 60, but for the distance they cover in York, I think the prices are too high in comparison with other places".

BERYL COX, 59, from Skelton, said: "I can't drive so I have got to get the bus, and with the Rover ticket going up from £2.50 to £3 it's a bit steep. It angers you, but the cost of everything's going up".

ANDREW MASTRANTONE, 20, from Osbaldwick, said: "I'm a student and the only option I have for getting into town is to walk, but you shouldn't be forced to walk just because you can't afford the bus."

JO MURRAY, 19, of Fulford Road, said: "I'm from London originally and it costs more to get a bus here than it does there. In London it costs me £1.20 and now we are looking at £3 here. I think they should have a student pass, and to be honest they are just taking advantage."

Updated: 08:41 Saturday, January 14, 2006