A VILLAGE could be left stranded when its bus service is axed under a overhaul of the public transport system between Wharfedale and Leeds.

Pool-in-Wharfedale residents and councillors are up in arms over proposals by First, the company which runs Leeds buses, to cut the X85 and 85 service at the end of April.

The popular service runs from Ilkley to Leeds via Pool and once it is axed on Sunday, April 27, residents fear they will be left stranded.

Pool Parish Councillor Pat Walker said: "This will leave Pool residents stranded. It is so important - this will leave the village high and dry.

"They are always promoting rural transport now we will have none. People use it to get to hospital."

The cutting of the service will see the X84 from Ilkley to Leeds running every 20 minutes - but it will not go via Pool.

Pool residents will have to rely on the W9 service from Leeds Bradford Airport to Otley if they want to travel to Otley or the 757 Airlink from the airport to Leeds Bus Station.

Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale) is hoping that the Rural Bus Challenge or a Metro subsidy will save the X85 service.

"The usage is ten to 12 per peak hour journey from Pool, and more from Bramhope," he said.

"The X84 buses are frequently full by the time they get to the far end of Bramhope. Most passengers go to the government buildings at Lawnswood, Jacob Kramer College or Leeds University and none of these are anywhere near the 757 route which goes into the City Square via the A65 Kirkstall Road."

Coun Kirkland added it would put people from Pool in an impossible situation.

"People will not be able to get into Leeds by direct route, it will reduce the Pool to Otley service, so that access to doctors surgeries will be much harder for the well above average number of seniors in Pool.

"All the success in getting Pool residents out of their cars for the work run will be thrown away in an instant. Those extra cars, though few in number, will further strain the traffic problem into, and out of Leeds, already teetering on the brink of gridlock."

Chairman of Pool Parish Council Hazel Lee has labelled the move as appaling.

"It is quite a shock. This service is our only direct route to Leeds," she said.

The move is part of changes being made to bus services between Otley, Ilkley, Menston and Leeds.

Marketing manager for First, Charles Donnelly said: "We are trying to concentrate our resources in the areas where the majority of our customers travel.

"The new bus services 33 and 33A will provide a ten minute service along the main A65 corridor bringing them into our Overground network status.

"Links between Menston and Ilkley are maintained by the new W8 minibus services and we will be increasing the frequency during the day on the X84 between Ilkley and Leeds.

"Our services through Pool will be withdrawn however there are alternative buses in that area."

Buses 732, 733, 736 and W33 will be combined and renumbered 33, 33A, W8 and W6. Number 33 will run every 20 minutes from Leeds to Guiseley and to Menston Railway Station and on evenings and weekends will continue to Ilkley.

The 33A will run from Leeds to Yeadon, Guiseley and Otley and the two services will ensure there is a bus every ten minutes along the A65 between Leeds and Rawdon.

The W8 will be an hourly service between Yeadon Westfield, Guiseley and Ilkley, the W33 linking Westfield, Yeadon and Guiseley will be renumbered the W6 and the section between Guiseley and Otley will be withdrawn.

There will be timetable changes for the W1 to W10 service.

For further details or comments customers can ring First on (0113) 2451601 or email: contactus@firstgroup.com.