A small residential area just three miles away from Bristol city centre has been left without any local buses. Those living and working in Stapleton village had two services up until October 2022 when the Y4 and the number 5 bus were both withdrawn.
Following the announcement of the number 5 being withdrawn, a campaign was launched to save the service. At the time, residents attended a meeting with representatives from First Bus where cancer patients spoke about the difficulty they faced getting to oncology appointments at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
The in November, First introduced a new bus route - the 47 - which was offered as a replacement for the Y4 and number 5. But was an hourly service and bypassed Stapleton village. And it was axed in the latest round of bus cuts earlier this month.
READ MORE: New bus service launched to replace axed 'lifeline' route to be cancelled
There are now two new bus routes - the 525 and the 25 but neither go anywhere near Stapleton Village. With the nearest bus stop just over a mile away, the distance causes problems for those with limited mobility and adds a big chunk to the journey time of those using the bus for work, education or to get to an appointment.
All this comes as Bristol Live is campaigning for a better bus service for the city's residents.
Penny Broomsgrove runs Elm Tree Farm Shop in Stapleton. She used to get the number 5 bus into work each day from where she lives in Downend. Since the service was withdrawn, she has been using her car instead but is concerned about elderly residents becoming isolated as a result of the bus cuts.
She said: "I was using the number 5 and it was always popular in the mornings, it was always full of people. I use the car now.
“When you’re going past in the car it doesn’t look far but once you’re on foot, it’s a bit of a hike. It’s that slow drawn out incline, it takes it out of you.
“We've got some older residents who come to the farm shop who are saying that their independence is being eroded because Stapleton is being let down by not having buses coming through.” The local farm, funded by the Brandon Trust, supports adults with learning disabilities and autism and the bus cuts have been devastating for the community it supports.
Louisa James works as the enterprise manager at the farm. She recalls an elderly woman at a community meeting at the Mason Arms in September who relied on the buses for her hospital appointments and could not afford to pay for a taxi. Louisa said: “There were some individuals there who said they can’t get to their oncology appointments, cancer treatment in BRI because there’s no buses and they they can’t afford a taxi there, so it’s completely cutting off.
“If you’re going in for cancer treatment you’re not going to be able to walk back. It has been a pain [for us at the farm] and it’s been disruptive. We have four individuals who we have to pick up who could previously travel independently. It feels like we’ve been cut off.
“When we’re trying to attract new people to the farm it becomes more of an issue. We have had people cancel their placements because of transport issues.”
Ward councillor Marley Bennett has spoken to a range of residents in Stapleton who say they are struggling due to the elimination of buses in the area. He is particularly concerned about the impact the bus cuts are having on Elm Tree Farm and would like to see the return of a regular, reliable service in the area.
Cllr Bennett said: “Stapleton residents have been particularly affected by the cancellation of all bus services. I spoke to people who weren’t able to travel any other way because of disability or because they didn’t own a car who felt completely cut off and isolated.
“It would be really good to get some commitment from First, ideally it would be a regular service and a frequent service. I appreciate that the demand needs to be there but there was a demand previously.
“If there is a quality, reliable service, people will use it and that’s always been the way. It’s because they have been so unreliable and infrequent that people have got out of the habit of using them.”
Metro mayor Dan Norris said: “I understand how frustrated Stapleton residents are that the 47 was withdrawn, particularly older and disabled residents. This was a commercial decision taken by First Bus. Buses are a complicated funding and regulatory jigsaw. Using the record sums for transport I secured, and control, I’m proud to have launched brand-new and innovative schemes like my WESTlocal fund for locals to design their own bus services.
"I’ve also brought forward a multi-million-pound package of bus improvements which means communities in Bristol can enjoy much more regular buses as of this month. This includes Turn Up and Go in five areas of the city – including along Fishponds Road – and I’m determined we go even further as we continue gripping the national bus driver shortage impacting us here in the West of England.”
First Bus was approached for a comment.
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