RURAL bus services have long been a lifeline to the communities they serve. But today, with the demise of the village shop, post office and pub, they are more important than ever as a link to the outside world.

It is deeply worrying, therefore, that the county council axe hovers over dozens of North Yorkshire bus routes.

These are not frequent services. The Hutchinson buses which link villages around Pickering and Kirkbymoorside run four times a week. And you can only catch number 840, the Malton to Pickering and Whitby bus, on winter Sundays.

Yet even these sporadic services are considered too extravagant as the county council seeks to save money on subsidies.

Along with massive fare rises for York passengers using First, this is another blow for the promotion of public transport. All the worthy talk of reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality is undermined by policies which persuade more people to turn to the car.

Once again we are left to note that North Yorkshire bus services are so much poorer than those in neighbouring areas. The reason is lack of leadership. Residents of West and South Yorkshire enjoy more frequent, better integrated and cheaper bus and train services because they are overseen by fully accountable passenger transport authorities.

Plans for regional police forces and NHS trusts are controversial. But long-suffering local bus passengers, especially those in more isolated outposts, would welcome a cross-border transport authority which could deliver more services more efficiently.

Updated: 11:01 Wednesday, January 18, 2006