Following discussions with First Bus and the WECA Mayor, bus services from Paulton to Bristol and Bath will be much better than originally proposed.

Firstly, the 379 will be putting on a dedicated service at 8:05am from Paper Lane, for our school children, so that they can arrive at school on time.

As had previously been reported, the 82 bus service is set to continue and will be run by Libra Travel Bus Company.

Commuters now have a wider selection of routes directly from Paulton to Bath and Bristol. There are now approximately nineteen direct hibus services for the 172 and 379 directly from Paulton to Bath between 6am and 11pm.

There will be bus services on Saturday on the 172 and 379 to Bath and Bristol and on Sunday on the 172.

Similarly, on the 379 Paulton to Bristol service there are fourteen direct bus services. There will also be services on Saturdays.

This is a considerable improvement on the previous proposals.

Cyril Mitchard said: “This is as good as we can get from First Bus at this time. We have been promised our services will be looked at again and will be reviewed in three months time, in consultation with myself and Cllr. Hardman.

“The more our buses are used, the more likely we are to get better services.”

First Bus have also told us that they need more drivers, whom they will train.The starting salary will be around £27,000.

We would like to thank Mayor Dan Norris who has been instrumental in achieving these changes.

I would also like to express my appreciation of my fellow Councillors Cyril Mitchard and Grant Johnson for all their work and continuing support since July, which has achieved this much improved oucome for the people of Paulton. Cllr Liz Hardman

BANES (Labour)