FEARS that bus services would disappear in two of North Yorkshire’s main towns have been overcome after the council announced it will step in to provide buses.

From April, North Yorkshire County Council will provide town bus services in Northallerton and Richmond which would otherwise have disappeared.

Hambleton Over Fifties, and other residents, were concerned that Northallerton’s circular bus route, the number 74, would be dropped if council subsidies to bus routes connecting with the Northallerton service were withdrawn.

The 74 Northallerton town service and the 31 Richmond town service are currently provided on a commercial basis by Dales and District.

Following the changes they were no longer viable and scheduled to be withdrawn.

But now North Yorkshire County Council has pledged to keep buses running in the towns by using its own fleet of minibuses crewed by council staff.

Paul Fisher, chairman of Hambleton Over Fifties Forum, in Northallerton, said they had been very concerned Northallerton would have been left without any public transport in the town.

The forum held a meeting was held to discuss their latest concerns in January.

Mr Fisher said the new service will also take in Mowbray House Surgery on Malpas Road – something the forum had been requesting for some time.

“A well-attended meeting in January produced a promise of help from NYCC and despite the financial problems North Yorkshire County Council has delivered on the promise,” he said.

“The new 74A and 74B service will run, Monday to Saturday, more frequently than the old service. It will cover a greater part of Northallerton and it will deliver people to the doctors on Malpas Road,” he said.

“Of course people need to use the service if we are going to keep it but well done North Yorkshire County Council.”

The replacement services will begin on April 11, taking over immediately from the current operation, and will run Monday to Saturday.

In Northallerton, the service will run from 9.20am until 2.45pm and will start and finish at the Town Hall.

In Richmond, buses will run from 9am to 4.15pm from the Market Place.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for public transport, said: “It is our policy not to subsidise town services. However, by making better use of our fleet of minibuses, which is also used on other services, we are confident we can cover the cost of operating the services from the fare revenue.”

County Councillor Stuart Parsons, local member for Richmond, added: “It’s vital for the town that this service is maintained, as it provides a lifeline for many residents.”