Your letters: Paulton resident pleads with leaders as town is 'plunged into increasing isolation' following 172 bus termination.

In a letter to The Journal, the Paulton resident said:

'As someone who is community minded, I struggle with and will admit to being greatly concerned that after less than six months we are revisiting the issue of further cuts to bus services.

'I’m not at all interested in the state of the Council’s finances. They take our council tax each month in the understanding that they will take care of our neighbourhood and provide a raft of services that will aid its citizens.

'Bath & North East Somerset Council has a duty of care to maintain a number of core and necessary bus routes like the 82 (Radstock to Paulton via Midsomer Norton). It provides a unique and critical role in the lives of the elderly, those with disabilities and without an independent means of transport, providing a crucial lifeline to those that otherwise would be housebound, taking in many estates that are not on the main route or served by anyone else. Access to local shops and making surgery appointments would otherwise be out of reach. We have to remember and accommodate those that are not computer literate or can afford broadband.

'Paulton is a well populated village that has been badly overlooked and poorly treated over the years, it does not deserve to be plunged into increasing isolation after the loss of the 172 that terminates at Tesco and no longer serves us. All this despite paying one of the highest rates in the county.

'The friendly and happy spirit of this service provides a social angle too, an opportunity for those living alone to communicate and raise their flagging spirits. I have to particularly commend the driver, Tom Churchill, who goes above and beyond in his duties as driver, doing his best to drop people outside their home.

'I would like to see both the Council and West of England Mayor Dan Norris try to justify culling this highly valued and most important bus route and service. I cannot emphasise this enough!'

Terry Harris

WECA Metro Mayor Dan Norris has addressed the issue in an article:

B&NES Council Leader, Kevin Guy, has commented on the bus 'cuts' in an article for The Journal: