Residents and parish councillors in two South Craven villages have objected to proposals to cut a bus service that runs from Skipton to Keighley.

Transdev Keighley & District operates the 78A service, via Bradley and Cononley, with seven buses a day from Monday to Friday and nine a day on Saturday. There is no service on Sundays or bank holidays.

However, parish councillors have been told that from April the service will be reduced to four times a day, running every two hours, Monday to Saturday, and the buses will terminate at Airedale Hospital, rather than running through to Keighley.

The SS1 service, which runs at peak times from Low Bradley to Steeton and Silsden railway station, would also be dropped because of low passenger numbers.

Bradley Parish Council says the reduced service will restrict times when residents are able to visit Skipton and Cross Hills health centres. Councillors say the only other way for residents to access more buses is to walk down to the main road via Skipton Road, which has no footpath, or to go via Ings Lane, which has a restricted footpath and is often closed during the summer due to the swing bridge being in frequent use.

Bradley councillors also have concerns that residents wishing to travel to Skipton will have to cross the busy A629 road, which has no pedestrian crossing.

Councillor Lois Brown, chairman of Cononley Parish Council, has similar concerns for Cononley residents.

“It’s nearly a mile’s walk to the main road and you take your life into your own hands when you cross it,” she said. “If you reduce the service, it’s going to make it more difficult for people to get to and from appointments at Cross Hills Health Centre and Airedale Hospital. It will also be very hard for people visiting patients.

“We have a train service in Cononley, but that would be more expensive for the elderly who have a free bus pass.”

Residents are being urged to express their concerns by contacting local councillors or writing to public transport officials at North Yorkshire County Council.

The issue will be discussed by the county council’s Craven Area Committee when it meets at St Peter’s Church Hall, Main Street, Cross Hills, on Thursday, January 26, at 10am.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: “As part of our review of contract bus services in Craven we are proposing a reduced level of subsidy for the 78A service in line with demand.”

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, who represents Bradley, said the subsidy paid to the bus company was unsustainable based on the low number of people who used the service.

“It’s a pity because there are elderly and vulnerable people that rely on this service,” he said. He added negotiations were ongoing.

A spokesman for Transdev said: “It is a tendered service and our contract is up in April 2012. North Yorkshire set the timetable they want.”