Latest bus service proposals from First Bus

Coalpit Heath - The X42 which goes via the M32 will be retained, giving one express service an hour, but off-peak buses will be reduced from 4 buses per hour to 3 as both the X30 and X40 will be withdrawn. The X30 will be replaced by the new 327, which will go into Bristol via Frenchay hospital.

Frampton Cotterell - There will now be no express service as the X30, which goes via the M32, will be replaced by the new 327 which will operate via Hicks Common and Frenchay.

Iron Acton - The new X27 service via the M32 will replace the 328 and within the village buses will avoid the High Street due to parking problems there.

Hope for bus services?

Steve Webb met the Managing Director of First Bus this week, and it sounds like First may possibly be going to listen to all the comments they've had about their proposals to restructure the bus service and withdraw the "X" express buses from the Yate/Sodbury routes. You can read Steve's account of the bus meeting here.

Don't forget! Have your say on the buses

It's important that everyone tells First what they think - you still have time to make comments via their website www.firstgroup.com/haveyoursay/bristol. The deadline is tomorrow, Sunday 25th.

X factor bus bombshell petition

Lib Dem Councillor Sheila Mead and fellow councillors handed in a petition from residents affected by the proposed cuts to the bus services in Chipping Sodbury and Yate to the Executive member of S Glos Council. Sheila believes it’s vital to make sure the Conservative Council listens to their concerns.

Sheila Mead said, “Those people who’ve signed the petition really want their concerns taken seriously. We want the Council to make sure First Bus understands that these cuts are unacceptable without offering better alternatives. If streamlining one part of a service to make it better then leaves other people without any buses it will not improve or increase the public use of bus transport. I also hope that everyone who signed the petition will respond to the consultation by First which ends on 25th May.”

The petition reads: Due to proposed changes in the bus routes provided by First, there will be no bus servicing Cotswold Road from the end of July 2008. We feel that the removal of this service will seriously affect people’s ability to access local amenities, including Doctors Surgeries and shops. The extra distance people would have to travel to reach a bus stop would be beyond many local members of the local community and could effectively isolate people in their own homes. In a day and age when we are being encouraged to use public transport, it is extremely important that this service is maintained.

Cllr Ian Blair said, “It is disappointing that the Council failed to give prompt information to Councillors over the proposed bus timetable changes and consultation. There’s only 5 days to go before the deadline but the Council only saw fit to give members a briefing yesterday.”

He added, “As well as the petition presented from residents at today’s Council I asked the Executive member what is he going to do for Yate and Sodbury residents now that the Council has withdrawn funding for the Nibley park and ride? The answer I have received states the funding was reprioritised to fund a Park and Ride at Parkway Station. That’s all very well for the Executive members residents near that station but it still doesn’t reassure the public living in the Yate and Sodbury area about what this Conservative Council will be doing for them! And at the moment it looks as if they are doing nothing."

"To make matters worse the Council bus briefing given to us yesterday stated, 'There appear to be some positive proposals in the consultation package', this does nothing to reassure me that this Council is taking the bus timetable changes seriously.”

Can you spot YOUR local councillors in the photo?
- Front centre: Kay Crowe.
- Middle, right to left: Linda Boon, Howard Gawler, Sheila Mead, Dave Hockey.
- Back, right to left: Claire Young, Jon Williams, Sue Hope, Ruth Davis, Mike Drew, Mike Robbins, Alan Lawrance, Ian Blair.

Adding insult to injury

As if the lack of information about the bus service changes wasn't enough, residents of Coalpit Heath have received the wrong information altogether.

At Saturday's Parish Plan Open Day a number of residents told Claire Young that they had received the North and East Bristol consultation leaflet in their Observers, rather than the one for the Chipping Sodbury, Yate, Winterbourne and the Coalpit Heath area.

When she got home, Claire found that she too had the wrong leaflet and contacted First Bus. They were unaware of the problem and promised to put their marketing team on to it first thing Monday morning, but with the end of the consultation only a week away it seems unlikely that people will get the right information in time.

Bus information still lacking

Yesterday Claire Young contacted First Bus to try to find out more details of the service changes. Amazingly, she was told that they couldn't say what the journey times would be and exactly which bus stops would be involved as the detailed timetables haven't been drawn up yet.

The reason given was that they will depend on public opinion - so get writing!

Steve Webb speaks out on bus service changes

Read the full story in today's Bristol Evening Post.

More on the bus service changes

More details for our area are available from First Bus here.

The Evening Post has covered the story here (including lots of readers' comments) and given a service-by-service breakdown here.

Bus services axed - tell First what you think

First Bus are proposing major changes to bus routes and timetables between Bristol and Yate and Chipping Sodbury, affecting services to Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath and other communities on the route. Some places will get more frequent buses, but some will get fewer or none at all. The express “X” services will be withdrawn, and none of these buses will go down the M32, making journeys longer.

Your local Focus Team say that First's consultation is totally inadequate, with local people only having until 25th May to have their say. Cllr Pat Hockey 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.”

Cllr Claire Young added, “There is simply not enough information in the consultation leaflet for people to work out what impact these changes would have. I urge First Bus to provide more details and extend the consultation period to allow local people to have a real say about these changes”.

It's important that everyone tells First what they think via their website www.firstgroup.com/haveyoursay/bristol or by writing to Have Your Say, Freepost 3782, Bristol BS5 0ZX.