Dear Editor,

As ward councillor for Clutton and Farmborough, I write with serious concern about the changes to the 522 bus service taking effect from April 2026, and what they mean for the people I represent across our villages.

To understand the gravity of the current situation, it is necessary to understand the history. Farmborough once had the 179 service — a direct, frequent link into Bath that made the journey straightforward and practical. When the 179 was withdrawn, residents were told that the new 522 would provide an alternative connection. And so it does — but at a significant cost. Where the 179 ran directly into Bath, the 522 travels via Midsomer Norton, stretching what was once a 30-minute journey into one of up to 90 minutes. That is not a like-for-like replacement. That is a degradation of service dressed up as continuity.

Now, even that degraded service is being cut further.

The 522 was introduced in April 2023 with considerable fanfare, funded through the West of England Combined Authority's Bus Service Improvement Plan. Residents were promised an hourly service, seven days a week, connecting our communities to both Bristol and Bath. Many residents reorganised their lives around that promise — planning their working and studying hours around the timetable, or accepting jobs in Bristol and Bath that depended on reliable early morning connections.

That promise is now being broken.

A petition has been launched by one of those residents, and their words deserve to be heard directly. They write that the changes "would disrupt not only my ability to get to school on time but also impact countless students and workers who rely on this service," and that the removal of the morning service "isn't a minor inconvenience — it forces people to rethink their entire schedules and, in some cases, may even jeopardise their jobs or education." I could not put it better myself.

The timetable changes bear this out starkly. From April, the first morning bus from Farmborough towards Bath will be delayed by over an hour on weekdays — moving from 0606 to 0711. For a student needing to reach Bath College, or a care worker required to start a shift at 0800, that single change is potentially life-altering. Remember, this is not a 30-minute journey — it is already 90 minutes. Missing that early bus is not a minor inconvenience; it can make the difference between keeping and losing a job or a place on a course. On Saturdays the first bus towards Bristol shifts back by over an hour, from 0749 to 0856. On Saturday evenings, the last bus towards Bath becomes nearly 44 minutes earlier. These are not minor timetable adjustments. They are the systematic removal of the journeys that people actually use.

When the 179 was withdrawn, some residents were told that Demand Responsive Transport — the WESTlink minibus service bookable via app — might fill the gap. It has not. WESTlink does not serve our area. For residents of Farmborough and the surrounding villages, there is no app-based minibus coming to the rescue. There is only the 522, and that service is now being cut back at precisely the times when it matters most.

This matters enormously for the long-term viability of the route itself. Early morning and late evening journeys are precisely the ones used by commuters and students — the regular, fare-paying passengers who underpin a service's commercial case. When you remove the journeys that working people depend upon, you do not simply inconvenience those residents; you drive them back into their cars out of necessity. Passenger numbers fall. Lower passenger numbers are then cited as justification for further cuts. This is the definition of managed decline — a self-fulfilling prophecy that hollows out a service until its eventual withdrawal can be presented as inevitable.

The petition rightly points out that removing vital services directly contradicts the stated commitments of both Bristol and Bath to sustainable transport and carbon reduction. It is deeply contradictory for authorities to speak of encouraging public transport use whilst stripping away the very journeys that make public transport a practical choice for ordinary residents. As the petitioner writes, "cutting vital services contradicts this vision."

We are told that the 522 will continue to operate hourly between Bristol and Bath. But an hourly service that does not run when residents need to get to work or school/college, that already takes three times longer than the direct service it replaced, and that has no DRT alternative waiting in the wings, is not a service that genuinely serves its community. It is a timetable that exists on paper whilst failing residents in practice.

I am writing directly to the West of England Combined Authority and to First Bus to demand an urgent explanation of how these changes are consistent with the goals of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, and to ask what assessment has been made of the impact on students, shift workers, and those without access to a car. I would also urge the relevant authorities to heed the petitioner's call to "reassess budget allocations, seek governmental assistance, or foster community partnerships" before cutting services that cannot easily be restored once lost.

The people of Farmborough and the surrounding villages have already lost one direct bus service to Bath. They accepted a slower, longer replacement in good faith. They were then told that DRT would support them — and it does not reach them. They cannot afford to lose what little remains. I urge every resident who depends on this service to sign the petition, and I urge the authorities responsible to listen before it is too late: tinyurl.com/522-bus-petition-2026

Yours faithfully,

Cllr Sam Ross

Ward councillor for Clutton and Farmborough

Dear Editor,

Dementia is a much-feared health condition for many, and studies show that half of people in the UK, particularly those over 65, rank it higher than other illnesses. Common reasons for this fear include the lack of a cure, the loss of independence, and the heavy emotional strain it places on family and friends.

Whilst we cannot eliminate those fears, it could help us to learn more about the condition. It is always better to have real facts.

Next March 17 the Friends of SVMG have arranged a talk called Dementia - Diagnosis and Management. The speaker is local GP Dr Dan Hubbard who has worked locally for many years, and has dealt with many patients with different forms and degrees of dementia. The talk will be at 6.30pm at Midsomer Norton Methodist Church. It is free to any local resident. If you have been thinking about Dementia, and want to learn more, this could be a useful talk to attend.

Jenny Evans

Midsomer Norton

Dear Editor,

Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions would like to send thanks to all those who helped us raise money with our Race Night in February for the Royal Society for Blind Children. With the community coming together, we raised £700 on the night, and Lions are topping this up to £1,000.

Lions extend their sincere gratitude to the public for their unwavering support and generous donations on the night. Thank you to our sponsors B.H. Mears, High Street DIY, John Martin Coaches, Edwards Opticians, Jacarandas, and G.Michard & Son Butchers for their support with this event.

The evening was kindly hosted by Annette and her brilliant team at the Westfield Sports and Community Centre, with Jodie and her daughter running the races so smoothly…Thank you all for making this event such a special and enjoyable evening.

The Royal Society for Blind Children would also like to say a big thank you to everyone for supporting them. The RSBC provides support, advice, events, social groups, education, and advocacy for vision-impaired children, young people, and their families locally and across England and Wales.

Lyn Venn

B H Mears, Midsomer Norton

Dear Editor,

Would you please allow me space in your paper to thank everyone who came to paulton pensioners get together at scouts Hall on February 20.

The amazing Sue from Golden Oldies entertained us and it was wonderful to see everyone singing along while raising funds for local charities.

Our next get together at Paulton Scouts Hall is on March 20 at 2pm. There will be few games; bingo, play your cards right, a raffle and a cuppa.

Everyone welcome. Come along for fun afternoon and meet old and new friends.

Shandy and friends, Paulton