Friends of Filey Town Bus Service

21/08/2025

***Residents press for return of Bus for Filey, and provision of service to Hunmanby and surrounding villages***

Since October 2024, concerned Filey residents have been working tirelessly behind the scenes . with the help and support of the Local Labour Party, to help get the bus service returned, to combat loneliness and isolation of residents in the area.

A service linking both Filey and Hunmanby would be comparable to Pickering , in population. It would also provide access to all residents to medical and banking services, in both directions. The group worked hard to track down the “ transport services survey “ undertaken for Filey, and to make sure this survey was made available to David Skaith’s consultants.

The perception was the bus was for the elderly people only, to go forward economically that service may have to be more widely used.

The group are grateful to Sue Cowan for initiating this campaign with the 1700 signatures which have still to be handed in.

Those steps in the campaign included persuading the new combined North Yorkshire Mayor , David Skaith to visit Filey and hear direct representations.

Aided by Councillors Sam Cross and Councillor Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff , further meetings and discussions have taken place with the Mayors transport officers.

Extensive research has been undertaken including visits to elderly residents, where campaigner Mal Anthony was overwhelmed by a group who had lost access to the previous service.

The group collected information on the needs of visitors, the existing services and the need for better connectivity to Scarborough Hospital.

Local businesses have been spoken to about , how a service would help get people to work, and improve parking in the town centre. The group are grateful for the input of the Filey Trade and Tourism Association.

As a result of this investigation work , David Skaith was persuaded to appoint a consultant to examine further the possibilities of improving the services, including access to the 6th form college in Scarborough .

Whilst the report is due out shortly, the group want Filey Residents to know this is not the end of the campaign. The group have been monitoring The Bus Bill number 2, which is progressing through Parliament, and only needs a final reading to become law.

Campaigner Kate Nash speaking on behalf of the Local Labour Party said “ it was refreshing to be able to engage with the new Filey Mayor Cllr Linda Randall and Deputy Mayor Cllr Wendy Fenlon.

Thank you to the Community Partnership for giving us permission to send a copy of their recently commissioned accessibility study to David Skaith’s transport consultant. The accessibility study highlights some of the accessibility problems faced by Filey which includes transport.

29/05/2024

Update from Sue Cowan.

Just to say that because of the upcoming general election, the filey town bus item which was hopefully to be added to the area committee meeting at scarborough on June 14th, has now been omitted and will be added at a later date for discussion. I am disappointed but it gives us more time to put a successful bid in.

Sue C

22/05/2024

Filey town bus update. By Sue Cowan.

I emailed NYC to ask what is the current position of our town bus and what I can do now.
I have been told that , there is a further area committee meeting on June 14th which will be held at scarborough town Hall.

It is hopeful that the filey town bus issue will be on the agenda. So fingers crossed that will happen and it will finally get the chance for people to see and hear what the cllrs say.

I would ask that you e mail Fileys NY Cllr Sam Cross to ask for his support His details are on the NYC Web page.

08/05/2024

Might this be useful for Cllr Cross, Mr Hollinrake MP and Sue Cowan

The Little White Bus The Little White Bus is a community service providing scheduled travel to the residents of, and visitors to Upper Wensleydale and Swaledale in North Yorkshire. drive for us Get In Touch  Monday to Friday 9am-5pm 01969 667400 60,000 passengers each year Founded in 2011 by the ...

25/04/2024

Did you know that Filey Town Council has 13 Councillors to represent Filey.

See their names below.

If you need further information then please visit:

www.fileytowncouncil.co.uk

25/04/2024

A heartfelt plea from Sue Cowan!
I am truly trying to remain calm.

A group has been formed, as agreed at the public meeting we had to try to reinstate the little bus.

This group consists of myself ,Cllr Sam Cross, Filey Town Mayor Jacqui Houlden-Banks and Kevin Hollinrake MP.
Yesterday we were sent a list of questions from Kevin's office appertaining to the running of the town bus. I haven't got the answers without doing a lot of digging.
Yesterday I rang Cllr Sam Cross asking him to forward the answers as I felt it would be easy for him to access them.
He directed me to Filey Town Council .
Today the response from Filey town council via the mayor is for Kevin hollinrakes office to contact Colin Galway who ran the service to get the answers.
This process, that I and many others were so hopeful of has floundered at the very first fence.

So I now have a question to ask them which is, "Instead of delaying things and not being prepared to help why won't our elected officials help the desperately isolated, lonely and socially excluded residents of Filey rather than this buck passing that is currently going on?"

To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Answers please in a meaningful way.

23/04/2024

We have various petitions around town.
Please consider signing.

Thank you.

Current locations:

Glad Rags and Handbags opposite post office

All seasons Fruit and veg shop opposite post office

Katie malones

Wrays stationary

Library

23/04/2024

Posted for Councillor Sam Cross,
North Yorkshire Council.
Firstly, a thank you to all who turned out on Saturday morning and it was nice to see and have this support for the revival of the "Little Bus".

Thank you to Kevin Hollinrake MP and especially Sue Cowan for organising and attending. Sadly, Fileys Mayor, Jacqui Houlden-Banks could not attend due to illness and I wish her a speedy recovery.

I will continue to work with everyone in an effort to establish a bus service again.

I have again contacted Cllr Keane Duncan, the Cabinet member for transport and have also asked the Area Chairman for Thirsk and Malton for a meeting in Filey.

Further reports will be made available.

Thank you

Cllr Sam Cross

22/04/2024

Community Rallies Together for Little Bus

Thanks to local resident, Sue Cowan, there has been renewed interested in reviving the bus service affectionately referred to as Colin’s Little Bus.

Following Colin’s retirement in May 2023, the community have worked to find a solution to the problem, including consulting with North Yorkshire Council and Age UK to consider some form of solution.

Frustrated resident, Sue Cowan, could no longer bear watching people struggle to access the facilities in town, including the shops, doctors, dentists, and the library never mind social factors such as meeting for coffee or attending interest groups. This has led to countless problems for the residents of Filey and the surrounding area as they face social isolation, anxiety, and depression not to mention the medical issues that they leave unattended as a result of not being able to access the services they require.

The meeting, held on 20th March at the Evron Centre, was very well attended and additional chairs had to be brought in to enable those present for the hour-long meeting to be comfortable with many more having to stand. Resident Sue Cowan, Cllr Sam Cross and Cllr Kevin Hollinrake led the meeting, taking questions and comments from the floor.

It was evident that there was incredible passion for the Little Bus and great appreciation for what Colin had cultivated during his years serving the community. Whilst it was apparent that Colin’s service is irreplicable, the need for a similar scheme is 100% required.

The meeting was told that Kevin Hollinrake would work with Sam Cross, Sue Cowan and other influential representatives on a plan and a proper funding bid to be put forward to North Yorkshire Council. A full exploration of business models and requirements has already been underway but the more volunteers who are available to help with this the better.

The previous Friends of Filey Town Bus Service page has been reinstated to share updates as well as recognising the need for email updates and printed newsletters to be delivered to key outlets such as the Over 60’s Club, doctors, library and Filey Fields, hopefully some of the population will be able to get to these venues, maybe a phone tree is really what’s required?

Volunteers are asked to express their interest through the page or by emailing [email protected].

20/04/2024

This page aims to keep you all up to date with efforts to get a bus service up and running again.

There is no timescale as yet.

Sue Cowan (resident), Kevin Hollinrake MP, FTC and Cllr Sam Cross will be working to put together a viable plan including costings to North Yorkshire Council as soon as May 2024, which will coincide with the elections for the new County Mayor.

Thank you

This will only be a first step, so please be patient and keep everything crossed for a good outcome!