news story

9th May 2008

MP Condemns Plans for 'Bus Deserts' in Parts of South Gloucestershire

Plans for cuts in bus services into Bristol from Yate, Chipping Sodbury and neighbouring villages have been condemned by Northavon MP Steve Webb. Under plans being considered by First, the express 'X' services will be scrapped and some roads will lose their bus services altogether. These include Cotswold Road in Chipping Sodbury and the Cranleigh Court estate in Yate. A consultation document prepared by the company is silent about the impact of the changes on journey times.

Commenting Steve Webb said:

"I am already starting to hear from residents who are dismayed by these plans. People living in Cotswold Road have just seen major traffic works with newly marked bus stops and now there is a threat to remove the bus service altogether. Residents of Cranleigh Court are threatened with losing their nearby Post Office and could now lose the only bus that goes through the estate.

"These changes will create 'bus deserts' for thousands of residents. It cannot be right for First to make a poor service even worse and to cut some communities off altogether".


Residents can respond online to the consultation at: http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/bristol