RESIDENTS in Yate have been left furious after the apparent re-routing of bus services in the area.

The 46 and X46 bus from Bristol Bus Station to Yate Bus Station, that runs through key areas in North Yate and the Brimsham area is changing.

From Sunday, September 2 the service will stop running through Cranleigh Court Road (services 202 and 622 will still use this road), Greenways Road or Church Road.

First Bus have confirmed that the decision is to make a more efficient bus service that links Coalpit Heath and Winterbourne to Yate Centre.

The new service will operate every 60 minutes Monday to Saturday, Sundays and Bank Holidays. This service will also provide an evening bus for North Yate as per a one way loop, Goose Green Way, Randolph Avenue, Eastfield Drive, Peg Hill, Gravel Hill Road, Greenways Road, Church Road and Station Road back to Yate Shopping Centre after 19:45pm.

Residents in the area are disappointed with the decision, with one stating the move was going to cause 'big issues' for their mother.

They said: "My Mum suffers with depression and uses the bus to get to The Heart Foundation shop in Yate where she does voluntary work six days a week. This is her lifeline. She also suffers with her hips and knees so she is not able to walk, being on pension credit she would not be able to afford taxis.

"Finding out she will not have a bus to get out of the house is the worse news possible, she finds working in the charity shop therapy."

Another resident in the area, Danny Parker of Mountbatten Close, was also aggrieved by the decision by First Bus, saying: "This will leave all residents in this area without a regular bus service into Yate and none directly from this area into Bristol.

"The distance for most of the residents to the nearest bus stop to get into Bristol, Yate or Southmead Hospital is between half and three quarters of a mile. Not good for the elderly or those with mobility problems.

"This will leave a large area of North Yate with no public transport service which I feel is totally unacceptable. It will leave many people, especially the elderly, housebound unless they use taxis or sign up to the community transport service."

MP for Thornbury and Yate, Luke Hall has responded to calls from his constituents regarding the potential re-routing, stating: "As a Yate resident, I completely understand my neighbours concerns over the proposals which, whilst providing a ‘faster service’, result in the loss of access to a route for much of North Yate.

"As our MP I have regular meetings with First after our success with the 82 Bus, so last Friday I used that opportunity to raise our communities concerns in person, and they welcomed our feedback before September.

"I am working alongside local campaigners in Yate in setting up a petition which I hope, like the 82 bus petition, will demonstrate how valued that easy access is to yate residents.

"I will continue to update residents on our progress, with the petition on my website soon".

First Bus have been contacted regarding the changes to the services.