news story

3rd September 2008

MP Welcomes Victory in Yate Bus Campaign

Northavon MP Steve Webb has welcomed the news that a part of Yate left without bus services from First Bus is now to get an improved service from Wessex Connect Bristol. 

Earlier this year First proposed a series of changes to local bus services which would have scrapped services down the M32 and left parts of Yate and Chipping Sodbury as virtual 'bus deserts". 

Following a high level campaign by MP Steve Webb and local Lib Dem councillors, First eventually agreed to reinstate motorway services and also to reinstate services along Cotswold Road.  But the company pressed ahead with its plans to withdraw services from the Cranleigh Court area of Yate. 

In response, local MP Steve Webb contacted Wessex Connect who currently run a two-hourly service between Yate and Cribbs Causeway.  

The MP has now received notification from Geoff Clarkson, assistant operations manager at Wessex Connect Bristol that from January 2009 the 482 service will be increased to an hourly service, providing a greater frequency through the Cranleigh Court area.
 
Welcoming the news, Steve Webb said:
 
"Residents of Cranleigh Court were righly angry that First Bus withdrew their bus service.   Coming on top of the closure of the local post office in Station Road, this was a further blow to local residents. 

"I am therefore delighted to hear that Wessex Connect will be increasing the frequency of their 482 service through Cranleigh Court for the start of next year.   I am grateful to my colleagues on the Council and to all local residents who took the trouble to campaign on this issue".