Potential cuts to local bus services in B&NES threatened the end of the well-loved number 82 bus operated by Frome Minibuses, which links Paulton with Radstock. New contracts to run many Council-supported bus services in the area have now been awarded following public consultation, review and a competitive tender – with some losses and some gains.

From 2nd September, the majority of existing supported bus routes across B&NES will remain the same, while a few services will be restructured to give better value for money. One early morning journey and two evening journeys will be withdrawn, as B&NES says the cost of providing the service is disproportionate to the number of passengers actually using it.

The award of new supported bus service contracts follows a public consultation at the start of the year, which saw more than 200 people get involved as part of the review which looked at the number of people using the services and the cost of running them. B&NES Council, together with the West of England Combined Authority funds non-commercial bus services.

A co-ordinated campaign by Paulton Councillors, Liz Hardman and John Bull, backed by the Parish Council, led to a meeting with First Bus managers, where Councillors drew on the support of bus-user and local resident, Cyril Mitchard. Having made it clear to First Bus how much local buses were valued by the community, the councillors then circulated a petition which called for the retention of the 82 service. Councillor Hardman presented this to a B&NES Scrutiny Panel where the Cabinet Member for Transport, who has control over bus subsidies, was present. Councillor Hardman said: “I am delighted that the B&NES Cabinet member, Mark Shelford, has listened to our evidence on how many people in Paulton rely on the 82 bus for everyday travel.”

Councillor John Bull added: “This local service is a lifeline for those without cars, and for elderly and disabled passengers. It is good to see that local pressure has led to it being preserved.” Cyril Mitchard said: “As a bus user, I have been impressed by the public demand for a service such as the 82, and I am also very pleased that our intervention has kept changes to the other services to a minimum.”

Councillor Mark Shelford, (Conservative Lyncombe) Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways said: “I am very pleased that, by working with the West of England Combined Authority, we have been able to maintain most of the non-commercial bus network.

“We must remember, however, that there is tremendous pressure on Council expenditure, so we need to ensure we get value for money for every penny we spend. That’s why we have had to cease funding for a small number of buses where the cost is disproportionate to the number of passenger actually using the service and it’s why users of some services will be asked to pay slightly higher fares to help us meet rising costs.”

Supported bus services that are changing: Service 20A/C (Bath Circular services). From 2nd September, an hourly service 20 will operate between the University of Bath and Twerton via Widcombe, the City Centre, Marlborough Buildings, the RUH and Oldfield Park. The service will divert to run through the Bath Riverside development when the through road is opened. This section of route is largely unchanged from present, but the stop in Ivo Peters Road (at Green Park Sainsbury’s) will no longer be served.

The current section of route between Twerton and the University of Bath via Combe Down will be replaced by First’s service U2 which will be changed to run from the university via Combe Down and Rush Hill to Southdown, then a loop via Coronation Avenue, Twerton and Whiteway, then back via Rush Hill and Combe Down to the university. Service U2 will run every 15–20 minutes in term times and every hour in university holidays and on Saturdays.

Service 768 (Bath – Englishcombe, Radstock and Clutton): This provides a daytime service on Mondays to Fridays connecting villages to main centres. Peak hour journeys between Bath and Writhlington are unchanged, but the off-peak service will consist of one bus operating between Bath, Englishcombe, Timsbury (Greenvale Drive), Camerton, Clandown, Radstock and Midsomer Norton (Tesco). The service will continue to be operated by CT Coaches.

The service between Clutton and Midsomer Norton will cease because it is not well used, but one return journey will be provided on service 754 from Clutton to Radstock on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays serving Venus Lane and Temple Cloud to Midsomer Norton and Radstock to complement the existing Monday-only bus and this will be operated by the B&NES in-house fleet.

The following services are being withdrawn: Service A4 (Chandag early morning service) – one early journey through the Chandag estate (at 0552) will be withdrawn due to low use. Service 179 (evening bus from Bath Timsbury, Farmborough and Writhlington).

One evening journey from Bath at 19.40 on Mondays to Saturdays will be withdrawn because it is poor value for money – in excess of £10 subsidy per passenger journey. This journey had been operated commercially by First until last year, but was retained with financial support to enable the council to assess how well it was used.

Service 179 (late evening bus from Bath to Timsbury, Farmborough and Writhlington): one late evening journey from Bath at 23.00 on Fridays and Saturdays only will be withdrawn, because it is very poor value for money.

A new facility is being introduced on service 172 that will enable passengers travelling home from Bath to High Littleton, Timsbury and Farmborough to travel home at 2255 on Mondays to Saturdays. There will be changes to some commercial bus services from 2nd September 2018 too and bus operators will notify their customers of those changes nearer the time.