'I've lost my independence since bus was axed'

A man who is autistic has said the removal of a direct bus service through his village has made him feel "less free and independent".

Oliver Heap, 22, from Pool-in-Wharfedale, previously used the number 25, which was one of two routes introduced by operator First in October to replace the X84 express between Leeds and Ilkley.

While the X84 was reinstated on 23 February after an outcry from passengers, the limited-stop service does not serve Pool.

First said it would consider altering the route of the X84 if there was "agreement" among residents of the communities it serves.

Mr Heap used the 25 to travel from Pool to Leeds to see friends and to attend a skills workshop in Ilkley.

"The direct bus means that if I just randomly decide I want to go somewhere, I don't have to go and tell my parents," he said.

He now has to changes buses during the journey or ask his parents to drive him to Otley to pick up the X84.

His mother, Lucy Heap, said: "Having the bus was really liberating.

"We didn't have to worry about how he was going to get anywhere, he suddenly had his freedom."

She added: "Hearing that the bus was being withdrawn after such a short period of time, I was absolutely gutted.

"I just thought, 'Oliver's independence is going to suffer,' and it is suffering."

Mr Heap said his search for a job had been made more difficult because of the lack of a direct bus link.

"It might be the right location but the wrong sort of environment for me, or the wrong location but the right sort of environment or job," he said.

Mr Heap's parents are campaigning for the service to be brought back.

They carried out a survey of 244 local residents, about 14% of the village population, who collectively committed to making 989 weekly journeys on it.

His father, Tony Heap, said First were "very willing to listen".

"They're keen to try and find something that works for everyone, but it also has to be financially viable," he said.

Discussions about a potential subsidy from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority were taking place with their local councillor, he added.

The limited-stop X84 was reinstated after more than 3,000 people signed a petition set up by Sarah Carmody.

She said it felt "fantastic" to be able to use the service, which doesn't pick up or drop off passengers between the city centre and Weetwood.

"It does feel like it's had a positive impact for the people in Adel, Otley and further on in Ilkley, but I do find it difficult that the residents of Pool to seem to have been woefully abandoned," she said.

Ms Carmody also raised concerns about reported cancellations and late-running services, made worse by a frequency of 40 minutes.

A spokesperson for First said they were "happy to look at possible changes" to the X84.

This followed a meeting with local councillor, Barry Anderson, and some residents, they said.

"If a proposal to the Combined Authority for funding to support an additional service is accepted we would work with its transport team to introduce this," they added.

Responding to concerns about reliability, the spokesperson said: "Since we reinstated the original X84 route on the 23 February with a revised frequency to manage traffic conditions, punctuality has improved by 12%."

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