A PETITION to restore the X84 bus service - as it was prior to changes introduced by First Bus last week - has been signed by over 1,800 people since it was launched at the weekend.

The limited stop X84 service, to and from Otley and Leeds City Centre and which also covers parts of Ilkley, was subject to changes introduced on October 27. The service has been re-numbered the 26 and stops more frequently.

Adel campaigner Sarah Carmody who has set up the petition said: "While these services are regular, they do not have a 'limited stop' provision as the previous X84 route did, meaning that those living in parts of Adel, Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale and particularly Otley have found themselves unable to board some buses at busy times due to overcrowding.

"People who have signed the petition have given many valid reasons for doing so, including new services being unreliable or taking too long, concerns about disabled and older people having to endure an extra-long journey, being unable to coordinate work and childcare responsibilities due to the change in service and a feeling by residents of becoming increasingly isolated."

The petition is being supported by Leeds City Councillor Ray Jones (Horsforth, Labour) - despite First Bus asserting: "This petition claiming a loss of service is simply wrong and misleading."

Cllr Jones, who is a member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee said: "The removal of the X84 service, which was particularly important for Otley but also to those in Adel, Bramhope and surrounding areas, has caused great distress and chaos. People are struggling to get to work on time or to pick up their children, and, especially in Otley, residents' voices are yet again being ignored.

"This is unacceptable, and First Bus has not considered how detrimental their changes have been and the upset they have caused. This is an issue that I will be vigorously campaigning on and, along with Adel campaigner Sarah Carmody, who kindly set up the petition. We will be seeking a meeting with our Mayor Tracy Brabin, whose vision of bringing buses back into public control is one that we both support.

"Hard-working local people, school children, older people and those with disabilities have a right to access their home, work, social activities and essential appointments. The limited stop element of the X84 was so important to residents accessing the city centre as it prevented a great deal of overcrowding, and they need this service to be reinstated without delay."

Kayleigh Ingham, Commercial Director of First Bus in North & West Yorkshire, said: “We have maintained two daytime buses per hour to both Otley and Ilkley and renumbered this to the 26 service in changes introduced from Sunday 27 October. We have also restored a connection from Leeds to Pool-in-Wharfedale, with alternate buses at 30-minute intervals. This petition claiming a loss of service is simply wrong and misleading.

“The continuation in service frequency has been achieved by combining the route stopping points with the wider Headingley network and into Leeds city centre. This is designed to spread passenger capacity throughout the day with re-timed services on this corridor ensuring there is only a four-minute gap between the next bus arriving.

“Specialist scheduling software has also been used to revise the timetable to improve punctuality and prevent any loss of trips from the route. This has resulted in five minutes added to the journey time to account for more stops and several minutes needed to help restore punctuality due to increased traffic congestion.

“We have reviewed trip times from last week and the evidence shows that a typical journey from Ilkley is some 12 minutes longer than previously. More than half this time was required to re-establish punctuality.”

The petition was made public at 9am on Saturday, November 2 and can be seen at: https://tinyurl.com/4usbbafh