A SILSDEN woman has collected more than 100 signatures for a petition campaigning against the scrapping of Silsden bus services.

Hazel Barker began collecting signatures after discovering that three services through Silsden would be merged into one.

The revamp means that Transdev buses will no longer use Dradishaw Road nor travel along the main street through Silsden town centre.

Many pensioners living in Dradishaw Road and neighbouring Gloucester Avenue will have to walk to alternative stops in Skipton Road or Woodside Road.

The changes are due to come into effect on Sunday. (August 30)

Hazel Barker, who lives in Gloucester Avenue and uses the nearby Dradishaw Lane bus shelter, has collected signatures from residents living nearby.

She said: “A lot of people use Dradishaw Road, more than any other stop in Silsden. Even the bus drivers say it’s the most-used stop.

“There’s a lot of old people living up here. I’m quite capable at the moment, but for a lot of people that extra distance is too far and there is no other bus shelter in the area.”

Objectors to the service changes also point out that buses will now have to turn right out of Elliott Street into the main road at Kirkgate, causing traffic dangers.

The petition against the service change was due to be presented to Transdev’s office in Keighley this week.

Transdev last week said one of the reasons it was changing the bus route was due to parked vehicles on narrow Kirkgate causing delays and potential accident risks.

The company said the new, simplified route would serve the maximum amount of people and Woodside Road gets a much better service.

A spokesman said that although “lightly-used” stops on Dradishaw Road would be scrapped, both ends of the road would be served by extra bus stops.