HUNDREDS of residents have petitioned against changes to bus services claiming they will leave them struggling for seats.

Coastliner, which operates between York, Leeds and the East Coast, altered its 844 service in its summer timetable this week, saying it had not proved popular in the Heworth and Heworth Without areas.

Its new route means the 844 passes along Rougier Street and Piccadilly before calling at Heslington Hall, University Road, Lawrence Street and James Street towards the city centre, cutting out Heworth Village, Hempland Lane and Ashley Park.

A petition against the new route has been signed by 463 people.

Heworth Without councillor Nigel Ayre said: “Residents are clearly very concerned about these changes.

“This is a popular service and provides a vital connection to central York, York College, Tadcaster and Leeds. There are concerns over the reduced frequency and that the services which remain will be standing-room only.”

Coun Ayre said residents on Algarth Road had now been left without any access to buses at all, and claimed the council had stayed “silent” on the Coastliner issue despite claiming the city’s Quality Bus Partnership would aim to ensure the authority could have greater influence over alterations to services.

But Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for transport, planning and sustainability, said Coastliner’s changes were a commercial decision which the council has no involvement in. He also said the Lib Dems had cut the council’s subsidy for bus services in their 2011 budget, shortly before the party lost control of the authority.

A Coastliner spokesman said the three-year trial of increased frequency between Heworth and Ashley Park has not proved successful.

“Regrettably, the number of signatures on the petition has not been reflected in the number of passengers actually using route 844.”