news story

30th March 2009

MP to Hold Talks with Bus Chiefs Over Local Bus Cuts

Northavon MP Steve Webb will hold talks this week with senior executives from First Bus over the planned cuts to services in Yate, Iron Acton and Winterbourne.

The MP has arranged for Commercial Director Simon Cursio to come to Iron Acton on Thursday afternoon to meet the MP along with local councillors in order to discuss First's plans and to stress the impact that the changes will have on the communities affected.

The meeting will also discuss how the affected routes might be covered by other bus operators. In attendance will be Steve Webb MP, South Gloucestershire Councillors from Yate and Iron Acton and members of Iron Acton parish council.

Steve Webb said:

"I have heard from large numbers of local people who are outraged at what First is planning, especially given the large profits figures that the company has just announced. Villages such as Iron Acton and large parts of Yate will be cut off by public transport for large parts of the day. How are local people expected to get to medical appointments or get out to the shops?

"We are already pressing South Gloucestershire Council to make sure that another operator provides a replacement service, but we need to get First to realise that its very high fares are part of the reason why buses are sometimes not as heavily used as they could be."