A bus ride in the right direction

Your local Focus Team has cautiously welcomed the new Yate-Southmead bus service.

It's good news for people living in Yate and villages like Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell as the new service will mean seven day a week access to Southmead hospital. But it will not extend to Chipping Sodbury, and some passengers will need to change at Bristol Parkway station.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Cllr Pat Hockey said: “The service First has registered is a mixed bag - we’re pleased that local residents will be able to get to Southmead all days of the week, but we always wanted it to go as far as Sodbury. Patients or visitors from Sodbury will have to change in Yate, and sometimes then change again at Parkway - or go all around the houses. That is not good enough.

“This is a step in the right direction, but our campaign for good bus links between the Yate-Sodbury area and Southmead will go on.”

Local MP Steve Webb said: “I was disappointed to learn that Sodbury constituents have been left out. The new service meets a lot of what we've been campaigning for, but it's sadly short.”