The wheels on a campaign to persuade First Bus to change its mind have been put in motion this week, with the launch of a petition against the loss of the 379 ‘fast bus’ to Bristol. Whilst First maintains it is streamlining the service, campaigners say the change will mean a slower journey for commuters and villagers and less stops from 4th September.

First Bus has announced that this service is being withdrawn due to the route being replicated by the soon-to-be hourly 178, which also travels through the village and on to Bristol.

Passengers picking up the bus in Paulton, however, say this is a much slower journey. Residents have also raised concern that the 178’s services only stop in the city at Bristol Bus Station, unlike the 379, which had other stops before terminating. As well as changes to some routes, First also announced a series of timetable changes, which will see buses run every hour during the day, Monday to Saturday, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. On Sundays and Bank Holidays, the new timetable shows four journeys each way, running approximately every three hours.

B&NES Councillors, John Bull and Liz Hardman, have this week begun distributing a petition to be sent to B&NES Council and First Bus, asking for the 379 to be reinstated. It will be available in Paulton Parish Council Office, the Post Office, The Hub, Paulton News and the village’s local pubs. There are also plans to make the petition available online.

Cyril Mitchard, (pictured) a local resident who has organised the petition alongside Cllr Hardman and Cllr Bull, said: “We as a community here in Paulton feel we have been let down very badly by both B&NES Council and First Bus.

“It’s not just the 379 which has been removed, but it is the replacement service which just doesn’t meet Paulton’s needs. This new route starts at the War Memorial, totally ignoring all our other areas. It should go along Farrington Road and Downsway and include the bus stop by the new estates, Bovis and Barrett.”

Hugh Warren, (pictured), also a frequent bus user, is keen that as many people as possible will sign this petition to put pressure on First Bus to reinstate the 379.

Speaking to The Journal this week, a spokesperson from First Group, said: “Whilst we do appreciate that change is difficult, and it is inconvenient for those who are used to a particular service, the company has made millions of pounds worth of investment in services and so, broadly speaking, the changes have to be about profitability, rather than making profit. We have had to look very carefully at services that were overlapping and put these changes in place.”