Public react as further bus cuts in rural North East Somerset announced at Keynsham meeting.

The Council, this week, voted to cut forty two supported buses across the region, much to the surprise of the public and other Councillors.

Councillor Liz Hardman and Councillor Grant Johnson, for Paulton, who attended the meeting, told The Journal: "Yesterday the leader of B&NES council, Kevin Guy, voted to cut almost all supported bus services in North East Somerset.

"At the Combined Authority meeting in Keynsham, he submitted a list of cuts to our supported services in North East Somerset, and said he has deliberately chosen to keep every supported service in Bath. Yes, every one.

"People in Paulton and the surrounding villages will almost be marooned. Around half of B&NES residents do not live in Bath - and all our shops, services and community activities depend on us being able to travel.

"From June, B&NES Liberal Democrat Council have chosen to cut these lifeline routes: 178, 179, 172 in the evenings, and the 82 which take us to Tesco and the shops in Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Paulton Hospital.

"You’ll remember how these were all saved by WECA Mayor Dan Norris in September. But these “supported bus services” are not in his gift to save - this is a local authority decision where he didn’t even have a vote. Government rules mean - in spite of repeated requests - he can’t spend his new transport funding to save existing routes.

"B&NES has found money for Bath - but not for North East Somerset. At the same time, there is an extra - unplanned - £10 million in reserves in BANES. So there’s plenty of money available to save our services. Just not - currently - the political will.

"Do please contact Kevin Guy leader of BANES to let him know your views. His email is: [email protected]

“Please be assured we will continue to challenge these cuts which treat our residents so unfairly."

If you would like to make a statement to the Council, you can do that in a number of ways, here.

Citistar, who offer a number of services to bus operators and local authorities, took to Facebook last night to comment on their disappointment of the bus cuts:

"This package of services continuing includes most current funded bus services in the urban areas of Bath and Bristol, but barely anything outside of the two cities. Every supported bus service in Norton Radstock and the Chew Valley should be expected to be withdrawn at the end of March.

See our other article which states which services will be affected:

"These services represent the only remaining bus services to: Bishop Sutton, Blagdon, Camerton, Chew Stoke, Chew Magna, Compton Dando, Compton Martin, Dundry, East Harptree, Englishcombe, Nailwell, Priddy, Priston, Publow, Tunley, Ubley, West Harptree and Woollard.

"These services also represent the vast majority of journeys to High Littleton, Timsbury, Farmborough, Marksbury and Burnett.

"Norton Radstock and the Chew Valley are being completely abandoned by politicians of all colours - not a single Bath city area service running via the city centre will be affected, or even reduced for efficiency."

It is clear a lot of residents will be affected by the cuts with one Facebook user commenting on the post, saying: "If those services are removed in full then this means the only bus route our of Timsbury is the First bus 349 service at 8.07am on weekdays? How ridiculous! Obviously many bus users don't wish to travel at that time and, more importantly, concession travel card holders are not able to use their card before 9am. This effectively means a withdrawal of a benefit to pensioners and people with disabilities."

Supported buses have been a lifeline for rural residents without cars, or other means of transport to rely on.

Another user brought up the regions push for lower emissions: "Absolute joke. Cutting off small villages completely. What's the point of trying to lower emission when you're forcing more people to have to do car journeys, if they can."

Dan Norris, who has been accused of 'approving these withdrawals whilst retaining funding for bus services in Bath' commented after the meeting: “Once again less is being invested in West of England bus services than elsewhere" as he stated he had no vote on raising the transport levy.

See Dan Norris' full article below:

We want to know your views. Will these cuts affect your every day life? Are you a frequent user of the services? Write in to: [email protected]