A change to the way some bus services across the West of England are funded will see several routes being cut in the coming months.
Bath & North East Somerset Council says it has stepped in to protect some of the services, following a decision by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Committee to reduce the amount of money being spent on buses from April.
The committee, made up of the leaders and Mayor from the three councils in the region, voted to reduce the amount of money spent on supported buses at a time when the costs to run the services have increased.
Although WECA is the local transport authority for the area, B&NES Council has earmarked £280,000 from its own budget above what it already contributes to the region’s buses ‘pot’ to further fund local services.
At the meeting on 18th January, Metro Mayor Dan Norris announced the introduction of a new Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) system for the sub-region.
In Bath, where DRT will not be introduced, the council’s additional funding will safeguard the following bus services:
- 2 – Bath – Mulberry Park
- 6A – Bath – Fairfield – Larkhall
- 8 – Bath – Kingsway
- 11 – Bath – Bathampton
- 12 – Bath – Haycombe Cemetery
- 20 – University of Bath – Twerton
- 620 – Old Sodbury – Yate – Bath
- 700 – Bath – Sion Hill
- 716 – Bath – Newbridge
- 734 – Bath – Bathwick
- 779 – Bath – Gloucester Road
- R3 – Weston – Ralph Allen School
The Metro Mayor announced that demand-responsive services will be introduced in areas outside of Bath from April.
These would allow people to ‘order’ minibuses through a phone call or app, within a zone or specific drop off / pick up points outside the zone.
More information on the Demand Responsive Transport scheme, named ‘West Link’, can be found on the West of England Combined Authority website here.
Where DRT is being introduced in April, B&NES Council will continue to fund some supported services until June, to ease the transition to the new arrangements.
The services being temporarily funded are:
- 82 – Paulton – Midsomer Norton – Radstock
- 172 – Bath – Paulton
- 179 – Midsomer Norton – Bath
- 672 – Blagdon – Bristol
- 768 – Midsomer Norton – Bath
Following the WECA Committee decision, a number of services will not be supported after April, although many of these journeys will be possible using the new DRT services.
Services being cut include:
- 22 – Twerton – University of Bath (school holidays only)
- 178 – Midsomer Norton – Brislington Park & Ride
- 185 – Paulton – Trowbridge
- 636 – Whitchurch – Keynsham
- 640 – Bishop Sutton – Keynsham
- 663 – Somerdale – Chandag Road
- 664 – Somerdale – Saltford
- 665 – Somerdale – Longmeadow Road
- 668 – Peasedown St John – Bristol
- 683 – Keynsham – Wells
- 684 – Wick to Keynsham
- 752 – Hinton Blewett – Bath
- 754 – Hinton Blewett – Radstock
- 757 – Combe Hay – Midsomer Norton
Commercial bus services in Bath and North East Somerset are unaffected by the changes.
Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Council Leader and cabinet member Climate and Sustainable Travel, said: “The system for bus provision is broken, both nationally and locally, following many years of funding cuts and deregulation and needs an overhaul.
“We welcome the fresh thinking that has led to the new demand responsive services being introduced, and very much hope that it will provide a flexible and sustainable way for people to access jobs, leisure and work, despite the speed of its introduction by the Mayor.
“Costs across the industry have been rising at a time of reduced funding, and this new model is the only way we are able to retain services for our residents.
“That’s why, even with the financial challenges we are facing, we are proposing additional council funding for buses.
“In Bath, where the Mayor is not providing DRT, we will use the council’s own money to ensure all existing supported bus services can continue.
“We will also be supporting some services across North East Somerset for an additional two months to help with the transition and will continue to work closely with WECA and the other local authorities to embed the new services successfully.
“DRT has the potential to improve access and contribute to our net zero targets, however given that DRT on the scale being proposed by the Mayor is untested, we are asking that communities be involved in shaping the next steps for its implementation.”
Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Once again less is being invested in West of England bus services than elsewhere. It works out at £20 a head here but £36 in Manchester and £63 in Liverpool.
Mr Norris is now calling for new powers so he can both raise and spend money for buses directly.
The Metro Mayor said: “Less money from local councils means fewer buses. There is no way of getting round that.
“The councils also specified which buses they would spend that lesser amount of money on and said deal or no deal. I was presented with a one meal menu. The only option was gruel. And that was a half portion.
“I know passengers will be upset not to get the bus services they need and deserve but without more cash from local councils who are the only ones with tax raising powers there is no way of doing more.”
Speaking about the new on-demand bus service, Mr Norris said: “WEST link is not a replacement for supported buses. Indeed government rules say I cannot spend the money being used for it on existing supported services.
“It is a new system designed to get people to main transport corridors. I am sure it will be disruptive and there will be teething problems but I hope WEST link will provide a much-needed new public transport option to help people get out and about to their destinations.”
WEST link is being funded by the West of England Combined Authority, predominantly using money secured from the government through the Bus Service Improvement Plan.
