news story

3rd April 2009

Bus Cuts Campaign Steps Up A Gear

Campaigners against the decision by First Bus to cut the X27 and other bus services are to step up their campaign following a meeting this week organised by local MP Steve Webb. Those attending the meeting, which included South Gloucestershire and parish councillors as well as local bus users, were able to put their questions and comments to First Bus Commercial Director Simon Cursio.

Residents stressed that they would be cut off if the service were to cease, both in North Yate and in Iron Acton. One young resident said the end of the service in May came right in the middle of her A level exams and that she would have to live somewhere else in order to be able to get to college. Another said that older residents who could not drive might have to move out of Iron Acton.

Mr. Cursio said that the service had become unviable, particularly because the Recession meant that passenger numbers had fallen.  The meeting heard that South Gloucestershire Council has put out an emergency tender for a replacement for the X27 but that it has not yet found the money to pay for it.

MP Steve Webb, councillors and residents agreed that they would all lobby Cllr Brian Allinson, Executive Member for Transport, to press him to ensure that the money was found to keep the service going after May 10th, even if it was at a reduced frequency. It was also agreed that in the longer term there should be a survey of the views of residents along the route to see which bus timings were most important to them.

One possible 'silver lining' was that if the Council were to pay for the service it could insist that buses again went along Iron Acton High Street, an issue which has been of considerable concern to local residents. It was agreed that South Gloucestershire Council would be pressed to ensure that this was part of the tender process.

Commenting after the meeting, Steve Webb said:

"This was a very productive meeting. As well as highlighting the damage that the loss of this route would cause for local residents, we concentrated on how we can fight to keep it going after 10th May.

"It is vital that the Council finds the cash to keep the service going, routes it through Iron Acton as before, and in the longer term consults with local residents in Yate and along the route about the timings which would be of most value to them".