THIS column is written with a sigh of relief.

For the last couple of months the Chew Valley Sustainable Transport Group has been pulling out all the stops to influence bus provision locally so that we retain the X91.

We have spoken at democratic meetings in B&NES and WECA, have created a petition with over a 1000 signatures and maintained regular contact with transport officers and the WECA Mayor. There was a genuine threat that the X91 route would be broken into parts, and we know, from the groundswell of support this community gave, that this would have been hugely unpopular.

On June 18 the news came through that the X91 would be retained, largely as we designed it, with just a few changes.

From July 26 the X91 will be delivered in one of the green 16 seater WESTlink minibuses, but as a fixed timetable route. Via, who took over the broader WESTlink offer in April will operate the X91 service at least until April 2027 and the in principle decision is that the X91 is now intended to run until at least 2029. As I write operators are working through stopping arrangements for Chew Magna and Dundry and finalising the timetables and we are told there will be paper timetables in due course.

The 99 and the P1 services, also designed and initially operated through the WESTlocal funding, will not be continued after July 26. We are advised that the customer numbers on the existing services just didn’t make it possible to cover costs. Part of the P1 principle (a route from Dundry to Bristol) will be available in a slight rerouting of the X91, but this doesn't help Winford and Felton. As we currently understand it, part of the 99 (Bishop Suttton to Pensford) will be covered by a new 101 route which travels to Midsummer Norton. What we are not clear about is whether the school run from Chew Valley villages to Chew Valley School is possible using the X91, the 101 or indeed a new 100 service which travels from Bristol to Bath.

The inner strategy group of the Chew Valley CIC Sustainable Transport Partnership has just four members, Elaine, Phil, Dick and Jackie, with a wider circle of volunteers who have stepped up to the mark to fulfil certain roles. As we reach this moment where the campaign to retain the X91 has concluded we are also reflecting on our own commitments: Elaine and Phil are definitely stepping back and others need to step forward if the community wants this work to continue. Have you got what it takes to connect with the community and support their needs and to help forge good working relationships through democratic processes? Do you have organisational and communication skills in need of a new challenge?

We are very proud of the work we have done to bring back and now retain fixed route services for the Chew Valley.

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