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At the beginning of this month the HCT Group – operating locally as Bristol Community Transport (BCT) – announced it would stop running three services from Friday 2 September.
These were the:
- 53 (within Clevedon)
- 54 (Clevedon to Bristol Airport, serving Kenn, Yatton, Claverham and Cleeve), and
- 55 (South Bristol to Bristol Airport, serving Dundry and Barrow Gurney).
While these services have now stopped operating, it’s a fluid situation and we’re continuing to work with bus companies, the West of England Combined Authority and Bristol Airport to look at alternative options.
Last month, commercial bus company First West of England announced it was proposing to remove three services in October as part of a network review.
The services under consideration were the:
- X2 (Yatton to Bristol)
- X5 (Weston-super-Mare to Bristol, serving Clevedon and Portishead)
- 126 (Weston-super-Mare to Wells, serving Locking, Banwell, Sandford and Winscombe).
After extensive negotiations, First agreed to continue a reduced X5 bus service from Monday 10 October until April 2023.
During that period, the X5 will run every hour between Worle and Portishead High Street High Street between 6.30am and 6.30pm. From Portishead, the service will run every hour between 7.15am and 7.15pm.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to find a solution to help passengers who use the other two services (X2 and 126).
Buses play a vital role serving our communities - they provide essential links to help residents get to school and college, get to work to earn a living, attend medical appointments, shop and generally travel across the area.
The impact of these cuts on the elderly, young people, families and more, and with such short notice, is deeply concerning.
Buses are also key to our response to the climate emergency.
However, we have very little direct influence over bus providers and the issues we’re facing locally are happening across the country.
In a cost of living crisis, bus operators are experiencing a rise in cost of fuel and driver shortages with increasing pay demands.
On top of this, usage hasn’t yet returned to levels seen before the pandemic and government support for the bus industry is due to end in March 2023.
For many years we have demanded more powers from central government and for more investment into public transport.
Without further action from central government the situation is only going to get worse so please write to your MP to outline your concerns.
Also, if you’ve ever considered a career as a bus driver, please step forward and contact your local college.
For the latest bus travel information visit the Travelwest website.