A BUS company which operates several routes in South Gloucestershire is set to close.

Wessex Bus, which operates from two depots in Avonmouth and Keynsham, has said it will be cancelling three of its services, with a number of others being handed over to another company.

The first said the decision was down to ‘a contraction in services following reductions in contracts from both the public and private sectors’, with changes set to come into action on September 2.

None of the three services being cancelled, the 42, 12 and 51, affect South Gloucestershire, but the number 10 service to Southmead Hospital will also be withdrawn, with Wessex Bus saying that Bristol City Council decided ‘it cannot provide the subsidy necessary to make this service viable’.

A number of other services are set to be taken over by Cheltenham and Gloucester Omnibus Company Ltd, which is owned by Stagecoach.

3A, 3C and 3X – South Bristol to city centre and Aztec West

3B – Parkway Station to Aztec West

11/11A – Southmead

508 – Southmead

513/514 – Knowle

515 – Imperial Park

625 – Severn Beach to UWE Frenchay

TSB – Staff Shuttle

The 20A/C service in Bath has been awarded to First Bus, who will commence operation on the route from September 3.

A Wessex Bus spokesman said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their support over the years.

“Further information regarding the transfer of services and pass information will be available over the coming weeks, so please watch this space for more information.”

Further details about their future operation of these services and their timetables will be available at stagecoachbus.com.