[for info] Fwd: Update on campaign for rural buses in North East Somerset

Dear All

This update on our rural bus campaign is being sent to all Parish Council Contacts on B&NES address book.

• B&NES Council Leader Kevin Guy sent the WECA Mayor a proposal to support North East Somerset regular rural buses. (attached). With thanks to all the ward and parish councillors, bus campaigners and experts, and residents, who have contributed ideas which we have pulled together into a logical, cost-effective, and positive framework for public transport in our area. 

• At B&NES Cabinet Meeting on Thursday 13/7 Cllr Sarah Warren also made a statement about the bus situation (attached). The Council also heard from Mrs Joy Arnold from Tunley who spoke eloquently about the impact the loss of the 179/768 regular buses has her life and those of her friends and neighbours. This was covered in the media as part of an ongoing campaign. (attached press release) https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/pensioner-left-isolated-somerset-bus-8607775

• Cllr Sarah Warren has written to Richard Holder MP (Bus Minister) urging him to persuade the WECA Mayor to fund regular buses from BSIP funding which the government has expressly permitted. Cllr Warren and Cllr Caroline Thomas, Wiltshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead for Transport wrote jointly to the WECA Mayor urging him to continue to fund the 94 from Trowbridge to Bath. (attached)

• We have had face to face meetings with officers from WECA about the bus situation and particularly the imminent threat to the 94 and 672 in the Chew Valley. WECA appear to be dragging their feet over the issues of value for money.  B&NES CC is strongly making the case that value for money should include social values such as rural deprivation and isolation, lack of alternative forms of transport, impact on health and wellbeing with no other transport etc. Despite having £57m to spend on public transport including £500k unrestricted funding, WECA is currently refusing to pay for bus contract extensions and still insisting that B&NES should fund them for an unspecified sum for an unknown time, despite B&NES budget being fixed with 80% going on statutory services and having increased its transport levy given to WECA by 30% to £1m. We will continue to meet with WECA to try to persuade them to change their stance.

• All Parish Councils have been sent information about WESTlink. Whilst it is not reliably serving our residents, it is the only form of public transport available in some parishes.  https://travelwest.info/westlink/. 

• In the next week or so, we will put up a website for people to learn more about the public transport situation. In the meantime, please do encourage your residents to write to the WECA Mayor to ask him to support your regular rural buses. Mayor@westofengland-ca.gov.uk

We understand the constraints on WECA’s funding but ultimately it is the transport authority and has the funds to support regular buses as well as Westlink.

Best wishes.

Fiona Gourley

Fiona Gourley Councillor for Bathavon South

Member Advocate for Rural Communities

www.bathnes.gov.uk