Passengers' anger at proposed bus cuts (From Gazette Series)

Passengers' anger at proposed bus cuts

11:00am Wednesday 14th May 2008 in News By Ali Dent

BUS passengers in Yate and Chipping Sodbury fear that a bombshell series of cuts announced by First buses will leave them stranded.

The major re-routing of a fleet of bus services from Yate into Bristol has been met with outrage by commuters, elderly passengers and civic leaders.

Northavon MP Steve Webb said: "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."

Mr Webb said it was not just commuters who will be affected but residents who rely on buses to travel locally.

The main changes would see express buses the X30, X40 and the 329 evening service from Bristol to Yate withdrawn and the X42 from the city to Chipping Sodbury axed.

A new 327 service would run every hour between Bristol and Yate Shopping Centre and the 342 service will leave Bristol every 20 minutes.

However, both will go via Frenchay and Downend and not the M32, taking much longer. A 328 service will travel between Bristol and Chipping Sodbury hourly.

First announced the cuts in a shock move last week, blaming a failure to recruit more bus drivers and low passenger numbers.

Justin Davies, managing director of First Bristol, told the Gazette: "We accept that traffic congestion, difficulties in finding enough people who want to be bus drivers and complex bus networks has meant that our service delivery has not met expectations.

"First is always looking at the bus services we run to make sure they meet the needs of our customers.

"Running a safe, reliable and punctual bus service is what we do."

He said the company wanted to implement the new bus routes by the end of July but welcomed the public's comments on the changes.

Cllr Pat Hockey (Lib Dem, Frampton Cotterell) said: "I am concerned about the lack of opportunity to discuss this properly and would be horrified if there's any cutback in services through Frampton Cotterell."

Dodington parish councillor Paul Hulbert said: "There's not enough information - people need to know how much longer the new journey times will be."

Cllr Sue Hope (Lib Dem, Cotswold Edge) said: "These proposals make a huge hole in any decent public transport system between Yate and Bristol."

First's commercial director Simon Cursio added: "First understands that a small number of people will be inconvenienced by the proposed changes.

"However, we are proposing a change to the network, which, we believe will provide a viable and reliable bus service for the area for the longer term."

Consultation ends on Sunday, May 25. Anyone wishing to have their say should visit www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/bristol or write to First, Have Your Say, Freepost 3782, Bristol BS5.