Elderly in Rawdon urged to ‘get behind bus efforts’ (From Ilkley Gazette)

Elderly in Rawdon urged to ‘get behind bus efforts’

9:00am Tuesday 12th February 2013 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

Elderly people in Rawdon who say they are cut off by a lack of buses are being urged to make their point now before it is too late.

Campaigners are calling on residents to make their views known as part of a Metro consultation on services which ends on February 28.

People in and around the Billing View area say they are struggling to get to their community centre as well as shops and other facilities because of a lack of adequate transport links.

Last year they launched a petition calling on transport bosses to improve bus routes within Rawdon.

Organisers at Billing View Community Centre lay on a range of activities for elderly people in the area – but they say many of those attending classes are forced to get taxis from sheltered accommodation along the A65.

They say residents in the surrounding area also need better bus links to be able to reach Town Street and nearby centres such as Otley, Ilkley and Harrogate.

One of the campaigners, Joan Roberts, who organises classes at the community centre, said the review of services was a chance for local people to have their say.

She urged all those affected by transport problems to fill in a form either by post or online.

“People are finding it more and more difficult to get around. The only bus that comes here is the 97, and it just goes to Guiseley via Yeadon and to Leeds,” she said.

“We can’t get to Kirkstall Road, to the shops, or to the traffic lights. We can’t get anywhere really.

“We started the campaign here at Billing View – but we are not just interested in ourselves. We want to help everybody in and around Rawdon.”

“Ideally we could do with one of those little runabout buses. They have one in Yeadon and in Guiseley and Horsforth, but we are this enclave in the middle without one.”

She urged local people: “Really get behind the campaign and fill in the forms.”

She said online access to fill in the forms was available at the Billing View Community Centre and the Library.

Visit the website at wymetro.com/ consultation/busreview for more information about the review. Changes will come into effect on July 20.