Council plans to introduce cross-ticketing for the city's bus operators on trips to and from the racecourse benefits visitors to the city more than its own residents, opposition councillors have said.

Labour councillors have been campaigning for years to see cross-ticketing introduced in the city to encourage use of public transport, particularly since First withdrew services from its less profitable routes.

Labour's transport and environment spokesperson, Coun. Ruth Potter said:

"We want cross-ticketing throughout the city and throughout the year, rather than just on race days to and from the racecourse. Such a proposal tends to suggest where the council sees its priorities, which is disappointing to say the least. We have failed to see cross-operator agreement on cross-ticketing and this decision on race days makes that all the more difficult to accept".

"Labour will continue to campaign to ensure residents are our priority, important as people are that visit and contribute to the local economy. I will raise this issue at the Quality Bus Partnership meeting this week to ask why it can't be implemented as Labour proposes".

Labour Group Leader Coun. James Alexander said:

"The Lib Dem council is clearly prioritising visitors to the city with this decision. Of course residents attend the races as well, but if the council is serious about public transport and reducing congestion, schemes like cross-ticketing have to be implemented so that they benefit in the longer term and consider public transport an affordable and efficient alternative to the car. It works perfectly well in other towns and cities, so the council should be placing much more pressure on those bus operators not in favour to agree it".

"It should be one journey, one ticket, it's not rocket science. Labour would do what it can to introduce this so that residents could change buses to get to their destinations on one ticket".