Outrage after plans to axe vital Thornbury bus route 

The 662 service which connects the town to Cribbs Causeway as well as Yate and Chipping Sodbury could end in April as part of West of England cuts which were signed off last week (Wednesday, January 18).

The route has been described as a ‘lifeline’ as people rely on it to travel to work, school, doctor appointments and for shopping and leisure activities. 

Approximately 32 other services also face cuts due to a funding row where from April these publicly subsidised services will no longer be funded and most likely withdrawn.

While four services including the 680 service - which goes to SGS College Filton - will run until the end of the school year. 

"If you want to go anywhere now - you need to have a car"

Thornbury resident Trudi Alden said recent cuts in buses is 'very isolating’.

“I don't drive anymore and since the T2 was taken away it now takes two buses and around two hours to visit my daughter,” she said. 

The 662 service which is a major bus for Thornbury is operated by Stagecoach West (Image: Newsquest)

“Now they're taking the 622 away and that means I can't go to Yate either. 

“Unless I get three buses, a T1 to Aztec West, a M1 or 73 to Cribbs and a bus from Cribbs to Yate or go into Bristol and pick up a Yate bus from there. All that to visit a place approximately six miles from where I live.

“I have family at Yate and the cut in buses is very isolating. 

“If you want to go anywhere now you need to be a car owner, adding to pollution.”

A new demand responsive transport minibus service has been proposed to replace services which would act like a shared Uber running in South Gloucestershire as well as other areas of Bristol and North East Somerset. 

The map outlines the zones - which includes Thornbury - for the new West Link minibus service due to commence later this year (Image: West of England Combined Authority)

‘Worrying news’ says MP 

However, Thornbury MP Luke Hall said the cuts were ‘worrying news’. 

He said: "The 622 is a vital service. Upon hearing the worrying news, I have been working alongside South Gloucestershire Council to ensure we save this crucial service until a long-term solution can be found. 

“The council have stepped in and done their bit by providing the required funding to keep the service going in the immediate future.

“I am urging WECA and Stagecoach to preserve this vital connection for many of our most rural villages."

"An appalling decision"

Meanwhile district councillor for Thornbury Cllr Maggie Tyrrell said the route was a ‘lifeline’ for accessing shops and services. 

“Cutting the 622 service is an appalling decision,” she said. 

“It’s the only direct bus from Thornbury to Cribbs since we lost the much valued T2. 

“How are people supposed to get to work in Yate and Chipping Sodbury now if they haven’t got a car? Or into the Thornbury schools? 

“It’s been a lifeline to people in the villages, getting them into Thornbury and Cribbs Causeway to access shops and services. 

“Residents were consulted and agreed that a minibus service, linking the villages to the main routes, would be sensible. 

“But the proposed demand responsive transport is a totally inadequate replacement for the 622 and will be over-stretched from day one. 

“It would have been more sensible to publicise the 622 so that more people knew it was available. 

“Bus services in this area are woeful, with even the main Thornbury to Bristol T1 losing passengers due to its unreliability. 

“The arguments between WECA and South Gloucestershire Council over funding aren’t helping, leaving bus services in disarray.”

Public transport is important to climate change

Town councillor Chris Davies added: “People in Thornbury should have access to Cribbs Causeway, Southmead Hospital and Parkway Station and students must have reliable access to Filton College.

“Buses need to be seen as an important part of the climate change response - car use will never drop until public transport offers a viable alternative.”

"Less cash equals fewer buses"

The West of England Combined Authority was approached for a comment.

In response Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "It’s a very simple equation. Less cash equals fewer buses. That’s why services like the 622 are under threat. 

"Once again, we are seeing lower levels of investment in buses than elsewhere in the UK.

"I fear that will continue to be the case until I get the ability to bring in taxes and the direct powers to spend the money strategically.

"I’m proud of the record levels of national funding I've won for transport for our region.

"But that cash comes with rules, one of which is that it isn’t to be spent on council-supported buses.

"I am reducing bus fares and I very much hope people will try my innovative West link minibuses when they are launched later this year”.

For more information about the West link minibus scheme - see here.