NEW bus services have been announced by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) representing a significant improvement for residents in rural areas.

The new rural bus network will launch from July 26 alongside new services connecting rural communities to key destinations including Bath, Bristol, Keynsham, the Somer, Chew and Cam valleys.

The new routes are funded by multi-million-pound investment from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s three-year Bus Grant from the Department for Transport.

A new 90-minute service is being introduced between Bishop Sutton and Radstock including Chew Magna, Paulton and Midsomer Norton, linking Chew Valley to Somer Valley on the 101 service.

The 768 service between Writhlington, Radstock, Camerton, Timsbury, Marksbury, Priston, Englishcombe, and Bath will have earlier and later journeys added and routed to cover more communities while a new hourly service, route 100, will run between Bath and Bristol to serve Timsbury, Farmborough, Bishop Sutton, and Chew Valley.

A new 90-minute service between Bishop Sutton and Radstock including Chew Magna, Paulton, and Midsomer Norton, will link Chew Valley to Somer Valley on the 101 service.

Changes to bus services will come into effect from July 26 with all the details available on TravelWest website