Harrogate Borough Council is facing major financial pressure due to the spiralling cost of the national concessionary bus fare scheme, and will ask the Government for more help.

In a report to North Yorkshire’s Harrogate Area Committee, the council’s head of highways and transport, John Burton, warned that extension of the scheme throughout England in April had been so successful it was causing significant budgetary pressures.

‘These “hot spot” areas have features or facilities which pass holders would like to visit, such as tourist attractions, beautiful countryside, pleasant and thriving town centres or idyllic, quiet rural villages,’ says the report.

Projections of the 2008-9 cost to Harrogate are £2.605-2.94m, but the Government is only supporting this with £795,000 of formula grant and £560,000 of special grant.

The county council is adding £790,000 from its on-street parking income, but the borough will still have to find £460,000-795,000 from council tax. Members were told an average £1.64 per journey had been agreed with operators but, until smartcard readers are available, the council has to rely on surveys to estimate numbers of passengers and journey lengths.