People living along the route of the only bus service in a host of Somerset villages near Bristol have started a campaign to save it - after it was announced it would be axed.
The 672 bus runs on a circular route to and from Broadmead and Bedminster in Bristol out to the villages of the Chew Valley, including Dundry, Chew, Stanton Drew, West Harptree and to Blagdon, Redhill and Bristol Airport.
For many villages along its route it is the only bus service at all, and people living on the route have started a petition to save it.
Read next: Another 42 bus services in West of England face axe in April
Earlier this month, it was listed as one of 42 different bus routes that will have its funding subsidy withdrawn by local councils and the West of England Combined Authority, and council chiefs said it would be axed in June. But the villagers in the Chew Valley say they are determined it should be kept going.
A petition started by local resident Angela Ardron has been signed by hundreds of people, with many expressing their shock that the only bus serving the villages south of Bristol was being axed. Ms Ardron said the bus was an important commuter bus and was ‘full most mornings and evenings’.
“This is being done at a time when Bristol city centre parking has doubled, for those who have a car, and also when a Clean Air Zone has been introduced. As a result, volumes on buses are increasing. This change leaves no buses in the Chew Valley at all,” she wrote.
“A bus service is vital infrastructure for families, students and commuters to get to socialise, college, work and even hospitals. The plan to leave rural areas with zero bus services is irresponsible of both WECA and Bath & North East Somerset councils,” she added.
Local resident Holly Taylor said the proposed ‘dial-a-ride’ alternative felt unworkable. “Cutting the 672 that runs through the Chew Valley is going to leave some passengers with no means to get to work, uni or college and the shops,” she said. “The new dial-a-ride service proposed feels unlikely to work in reality for those who need to use it early or late, and it's causing concern for passengers.
“The villages of West Harptree, Chew Stoke and Chew Magna have passengers in particular who use this service for work and uni. Some residents are elderly and do not have a car, and enjoy seeing those they know on the timetables routes. The Post Office is Blagdon is at risk, so that is a double blow for those residents. Some claim it runs empty, but the last two days, it has been full,” she added.
In a meeting last week, Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who lives in one of the villages along the route himself, said: “Once again, we're seeing lower levels of investment in buses than elsewhere in the country, and I’m afraid that will continue to be the case until I get the powers to bring in taxes and spend the money raised strategically.
"I’m proud of the record levels of national funding I've won for transport for our region. But that cash specifically cannot be spent on council-supported buses, something I've checked on more than one occasion with ministers. I am, however, reducing bus fares and I very much hope people will try my innovative WEST link minibuses to be launched later this year,” he added.
In addition, Mr Norris repeatedly denied that the new West Link minibus services were replacing the subsidised services — despite West Link kicking in at the same time the 42 existing routes are withdrawn. He said: “This is not a substitute for proper bus services, it’s a way of linking up people in more remote areas.
"I’ve asked the government if it’s possible to use the money I’ve received to maybe support bus services that are under threat, and it was very clear that the answer from them was ‘no, it has to be spent on ideas that are new and innovative’.”
If you are affected by the bus proposals we would like to hear from you - email bristolpostnews@localworld.co.uk.
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