After almost a year-long campaign to save the 179 bus service, there is now good news for the people who live in the villages along its route, many for whom this service is vital.

At last, it has been proposed by B&NES’ Public Transport Department that the 179 will be extended on at least a twelve month contract. All this is subject to protocol procedures before the contract is finally awarded on 11th September 2019.

Clive Turner, from the 179 Save Our Bus campaign, said: “Although Damien Valentine and I have represented this campaign since February 2019, the real thanks has to go to Reverend Martin Blewett and his wife, Rosanna, who were the instigators of the villages’ wide petition back in November 2018. Thanks must also go to everyone who signed it and participated in the public demonstration and petition presentation at Bath Bus station on that freezing cold day back in February; all of which made the relevant decision-making bodies begin to listen.”

He added that letters written by MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and support from B&NES Councillors, Neil Butters and Matt McCabe, were key in setting up the numerous meetings which followed, and should also be recognised. It was at those meetings that the reasons for stopping the service were closely scrutinised and the opportunity taken to highlight the need for a full realisation of the impact on the affected rural communities and the environment; all of which has gradually led to this outcome. As a result of meetings on this subject, the B&NES Rural Transport Group, (BRTG), was set up.

BRTG Chair, Rosemary Naish, told The Journal: “The recent announcement that the 179 bus route has been awarded for the next year is great news for residents, and is welcomed.

“We are particularly pleased to learn that the suggestion to exclude Farmborough and Paulton from the route has been disregarded, and that the route has actually been extended to Beecham Place in Midsomer Norton. On behalf of the BRTG, I would like to thank all the parishes, B&NES Councillors across all political parties and officers who have worked so hard to keep this vital bus route.

“However, I would urge caution. The fact remains that whilst the 179 route has a new operator for the next twelve months, the route’s long term survival is still dependent on being able to ensure it is viable. Only in this way can we avoid the traditional approach of staggering from one subsidy announcement to another with the trend being a decline in rural transport services.”

Mr Turner added: “Although we have saved the current service and improved it slightly by also getting the 768 service to be more integrated with it, it can still only be described as basic, and a shadow of what it was in 2017. Our ultimate goal is to get all those “lost” evening and weekend buses reinstated.

“We now eagerly await the outcomes of various activities going on behind the scenes, namely the long overdue West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Bus Strategy and the Government’s Public Transport Strategy, both of which could still have a positive effect on our objectives.”

To give your views by 31st August, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BANES_Rural-Transport-Group