THE battle to block an attempt to trim a vital Wensleydale bus service begins at a meeting in Northallerton today .

North Yorkshire County Council needs to cut its costs to give it more leeway to prop up services which operators are finding less lucrative.

Rising tender costs have also put an additional strain on the authority's transport budget, leaving officers no choice but to look at ways of saving money.

Reducing the 112 service linking Askrigg, Hawes and the station at Garsdale Head is one solution which will be offered to the county council's executive today .

The move would contribute £9,000 towards a savings target of £160,000 and letters have been sent explaining the proposals to parish councils along the route.

Passengers would have to book to use the service which would run just twice a day on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The current pre-booked service operated by C E Ellis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays would not be affected.

However, Coun John Blackie, who represents the area at County Hall, remains adamant the proposals will prove a major blow for people who live in the area. "This service is an important link between the three communities of Upper Wensleydale and the rail network," he said.

"While most use their cars to get to the station, there are a few, especially the young and elderly, who have to rely on the buses. Any reduction in the service will hit them particularly hard."

Coun Blackie pointed out that the county authority has already accepted that students in the area can find access to education difficult, because of the lack of a decent public transport network.

"It is hard to see how these proposals will do anything other than make things much more difficult in future," he said.

He is also concerned tourists visiting by train will find access to Wensleydale difficult if buses from Garsdale Head are reduced in numbers.