Metro Mayor Dan Norris has called a shake-up of bus services by First West of England, which will see ten routes axed from the firm’s timetables, “disheartening and disappointing”. The civic leader responded to news from the operator, announced on Tuesday (September 20), that there will be no reprieve for the 178 and other services – despite public opposition to the change.
Cancellation of the 178 service, which connects Bristol and Bath via minor roads through several settlements, will see villages including High Littleton, Farmborough, Timsbury and Marksbury cut out of the public transit network. The mum of one woman, who lost her job when the route was scrapped, called the 178 a “lifeline” for rural communities.
A replacement service, the 379, will instead connect the two cities via the A37 including Peasedown St John, Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Hallatrow, Wells Road and Knowle. First has blamed driver shortages and declining passenger numbers – despite photographic evidence that the route is still popular – for the shake-up of their timetable.
