THE campaign to get Morley bus services back to their old routes may have won their battle.
Local bus users voiced their anger at service changes and cuts that were announced earlier this year resulting in a campaign against the changes launched by Coun Josie Jackson and members of Morley Elderly Action.
But it has now been announced th
at Transport chiefs are looking into introducing a new contract scheme that would stop sudden changes, bus service withdrawals and unjustified fare increases in Leeds.
A plan is being discussed which would stop companies from what city councillors have described as "profiteering" at a meeting of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (WYITA).
It has drawn up a contract scheme under which operators would have to bid to run services and sign 10 year agreements. Metro would have power to specify bus routes, frequencies and fares.
Hearing the announcement, Coun Jackson said that Morley people can be happy in knowing that their bus services could return to their old routes.
She said: "Plans are now in place to get our services back. The First Bus 55 will stay on the loop system, backed up by the number 51, which would go back to its old route."
Coun Jackson said she has also suggested to First Bus that the 51A should go from Morley Town Hall, along Victoria Road, Churwell Hill, through Cottingley and Holbeck, to Leeds.
"This would mean taking the 55 service off that route to work alongside the 51. All being well, these services should see changes in April," she said.
"This will mean that Morley will have their First buses back along with the Arriva services and because the companies will have to sign a contract for 10 years, there will be no fear of fare increases or service decreases.
"It would be marvellous and I'm looking forward to seeing the 51A outside Morley Town Hall!"
Coun Jackson said she has also sent letters to members of Morley Elderly Action thanking them for all their support.
"They have been absolutely brilliant, along with the Mayor of Morley, Coun Shirley Varley, who has rallied up a lot of help, especially with organising the public meeting.
"I want to give a heartfelt thanks for all the help everyone in Morley has given, whether it was coming along to the meeting and voicing your opinion or just adding your name to the petition.
"People said they had had enough and acted on it. All the work looks like it may well have paid off."
