Wednesday 21 December 2016

Christmas times for other operators

Majority of other operators are running as followed;
Christmas Eve: Normal Saturday services ( Stagecoach 55/55A may finish around 8pm )
Christmas Day & Boxing Day - No Service...
Tues 27th December - No Service
Wed 28th until New Years Eve - Normal Weekday Service
New Years Day - No Service
2nd Jan 2017 - No Service





Thursday 15 December 2016

Fancy a spot of Christmas shopping in Broadmead? It will only cost you £6.50 using a Bath outer zone ticket. If you can find 4 more fiends to travel with it could cost you less than £3 each using the new Bath outer zone group ticket costing £13
Just hop on the 267 and connect with the 38/ 39 or x39 which all run hourly from Bath bus station.



Wednesday 14 December 2016

Do you still need to get your Christmas presents but work all day and al week?

Visit Southgate shopping centre https://www.southgatebath.com

You could also travel by bus to that all important party in Bath or just to beat the parking queue's
https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-…/…/timetables/…
Hop onto the 267 that runs hourly from 0554 until 2310 Monday - Saturday and 2 hourly from 0925 until 1730...

If you can get 4 friends to travel with you it will cost you less than £3 each using the new Bath outer zone group ticket costing £13






Still not taken your kids to see Santa or stuck for last minute present ideas
Why not head to Whitehall garden centre https://whitehallgardencentre.co.uk
Open from 8.30am until 6pm
Catch the X34
http://www.faresaver.co.uk/timetables/57db957318b86.pdf .. .
Kids go FREE on Faresaver buses  from 17th December until the 3rd January
LAST BUS departs Lacock Monday - Friday at 1652 arriving back in Frome at 1800 on Saturday departs Lacock at 1620 arriving back in Frome at 1747







Tuesday 13 December 2016

Buses of Somerset Christmas timetable 2016

The following level of service will be operated over the festive season.
Upto and including the 24th December. Normal timetables apply.
25th December NO SERVICE...
26th December NO SERVICE
27th December Sunday Service (only services that normally operate on a Sunday will run)
28th December to 31st December SATURDAY TIMESTABLES will operate.
1st January 2017 NO SERVICE
2nd January Sunday Service (only services that normally operate on a Sunday will run)
3rd January Back to normal college day timetables.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support in 2016. (FJ)

Changes to Buses of Somerset services from 31st December 2016

Good Morning. Service changes to the C/F service in Bridgwater due to the withdrawal of SCC Funding. The current timetable will operate to the end of service on the 31st December.
From 3rd January service C will be part replaced on a revised 16 service timetable operated by Hatch Green Coaches. The current 16 service between Bridgwater and Langport will divert 3 times a day around the Bridge Estate. Passengers along Longstone Avenue, Mendip Road and Moorland Road will need to get to Parkway to use service 1 wich maintains the current timetable. New Timetables are on the current service.
From the above date service F will be reduced to two journeys a day Monday to Friday only. This service will operate commercially with no support from SCC and we ask passengers to aid us in support this service. A copy of the timetable can be found here, on the bus and at Bridgwater Bus Stn.(FJ)


Tuesday 6 December 2016

Great NEW First bus group ticket deals

From 30 October our family day ticket in all areas of the West of England is changing to a new Group Day Ticket. This ticket allows up to 5 people (can all be adults) unlimited travel together in your chosen area until 4.29am the following morning.
Tickets are available after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Bristol Inner Zone £8
Bath Inner Zone £8
Bristol Outer Zone £13
Bath Outer Zone £13
Weston Outer Zone£13
Weston Inner Zone £7.40
West of England £15
So whether you're out for a day trip, out with the family or out for a night on the town with your mates, this great value ticket is for you.
Available to buy on bus or the mTicket app from the 30 October

Monday 5 December 2016

COMMING SOON
New 30 bus stop near Frome Medical Centre / Hospital from 3rd January 2017
The new timetable is now On Frome minibuses website. You can also pick copies of the new timetable up at Frome Town info desk at Frome library




Thursday 1 December 2016

Faresaver route changes on the 2nd December during the Chritmas tree lights Swith on

Friday 2nd December is Frome Christmas light switch on event. The Market Place will be closed to all traffic from 1630. After this time X34s will terminate/start from Fromefield and X67s will service via Rodden Road and Portway between Frome Hospital and Christchurch. The Market Place bus stop will not be in use during the closure

Wednesday 30 November 2016

Front page and page 23 of the Frome Times 1/12/16

267 funding issues makes front page news in this weeks Frome Times. Huge thank you to Sam Blanchard from the Frome Times for his support




Saturday 26 November 2016

267 route change during the Christmas tree lights switch on



Friday 25 November 2016

Faresavers Christmas timetable



Friday 23rd Dec - Normal weekday service
Saturday 24th Dec - Normal Saturday service
Sunday 25th Dec - No service
Monday 26th Dec - No service
Tuesday 27th Dec - Sunday/Public Holiday service provided by First on the X31 and their 272 (X72) and 267 (X67) services
Wednesday 28th Dec - Normal weekday service
Thursday 29th December - Normal weekday service
Friday 30th December - Normal weekday service
Saturday 31st December - Normal Saturday service
Sunday 1st January - No service
Monday 2nd January - Sunday/Public Holiday service provided by First on the X31 and their 272 (X72) and 267 (X67) services
Tuesday 3rd January - Normal weekday service.

Our 'kids go free' offer will commence on Saturday 17th December whereby up to two children can travel free with any adult. Normal fares will be reinstated on Tuesday 3rd January

First bus chrismas timetable



A full guide on what services are running over the Christmas and New Year period, Travel Shop opening times and details of special services can be found at:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/christmas-and-new-year-bus-ser…

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Help to save the 67 Burnham on Sea to Wells and Wookey hole bus before it is to late

SCC announced this by e mail to the councils and parishes that will be affected

As you may be aware the contract for bus service 67 from Burnham-on-Sea to Wells/Wookey Hole is due to expire on 26 November 2016. This was an emergency contract funded and put in place by Somerset County Council after WebberBus ceased trading in May 2016 with the aim of reviewing the service before the expiry date. We have agreed to extend the current contract until 31 December 2016 but unfortunately due to the financial challenges we face as an Authority we are not able to extend the emergency contract any further which means that the service will cease to operate from 31 December.
We are going to hold a consultation for the passengers who use this service, we hope to be able to gather data on where the demand is across this route which may enable us to look at smaller and more sustainable solutions for some areas affected by this service withdrawal. Shortly posters will appear on the bus informing passengers of the impending withdrawal and inviting them to email or write in with their comments.
We are also inviting Parishes to meet with us to discuss potential transport solutions. We have recently had a similar issue in West Somerset and after meeting with 3 Parishes were able to reinstate a service after they agreed to jointly fund it. If you would like to attend a meeting please respond to this email by 5pm on 11 November and once we have gauged the interest we will make arrangements

Friday 28 October 2016

Fare changes in Bath

From 30 October 2016 the following tickets will be changing:

Single Tickets in Bath Outer Zone

The on-bus price of single tickets in the Bath Outer Zone will be increasing. If your journey is over three miles you may find it more convenient and it will also save you money if your journey is further than six miles, to purchase your ticket as a set of 10 Single Journeys on the mTicket app.  
AdultStudent/16-21 Years OldChild
Up to three milesfrom £1.70from £1.20from 90p
Three to six milesfrom £2.70from £1.90from £1.40
Six to nine milesfrom £4from £2.80from £2
Nine to Twelve miles from £5from £3.50from £2.50
Over twelve miles from £6from 4.20from £3

Bath Outer Zone 10 Journey Ticket 

The price of 10 single journey tickets will be increasing both on-bus and on our mTickets app.
AdultStudent/16-21 Years OldChild
10 Single Journey on-bus£30£21£15
10 single journey mTicket£27£18.90£13.50

Night ticket

Allows unlimited travel after 7pm until 4.29am the following morning in your chosen area.
AdultStudent/16-21 Years OldChild
Bath Inner Zone£3£2 £1.50
New Bath Outer Zone£5£3.20£2.50

Group Day Ticket

This ticket will replace the Family Day Ticket and allows unlimited travel in your chosen area for up to 5 people after 9.30am Monday to Friday, all day Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. There are no age restrictions so up to 5 adults can travel together in a group.
Group (5 people)
Bath Inner Zone£8
Bath Outer Zone£13

Week Ticket

This ticket allows unlimited travel within the chosen area for 7 consecutive days. The on-bus price of all Inner Zone week tickets will increase and the on-bus price of the Child Outer Zone ticket has been rounded up.
AdultStudent/16-21 Years OldChild
Bath Inner Zone on-bus£18.50£13£9.20
Bath Inner Zone mTicket or Touch Card£17£12£8.50
Bath Outer Zone on-bus£23.80£16.70£12
Bath Outer Zone mTicket or Touch Card£22£15.40£11
All other fares in Bath Inner and Outer Zone remain unchanged

Changes to Buses of Somerset services from 30th October 2016


The following changes are taking place on the Buses of Somerset network of services from 30th October 2016. Please make sure you check the new timetables which will be available soon on our website before travelling.
Bridgwater Area Services
Bridgwater Town Service 1 (Kings Drive – Wills Road)
There are no changes to the Service 1 timetable.
Bridgwater Town Service C (Bus Station – Mendip Road)
There are no changes to the Service C timetable.
Bridgwater Town Service F (Bus Station – Wembdon)
There are no changes to the Service F timetable.
Service 14 (Bridgwater – Cannington)
To better match customer demand, Service 14 is revised to run hourly between Bridgwater and Cannington only with the section of route between Cannington and Minehead being withdrawn. The early morning and evening extension to Nether Stowey and the Bridgwater College day extension to Stogursey and Shurton will continue to run.
Service 15 (Bridgwater College – Minehead)
There are no changes to the Service 15 timetable.
Service 19 (Bridgwater College – Greinton)
There are no changes to the Service 19 timetable
Service 21/21A/ (Taunton – Burnham-on-Sea)
Service 21/21A timetable is revised with the frequency between Burnham-on-Sea, Sea View Road and Bridgwater Bus Station being reduced to every 30 minutes to better match customer demand. Buses between Bridgwater Bus Station and Taunton Bus Station will continue to run every 15 minutes for most of the day. The last bus between Taunton and Bridgwater on Mondays to Saturdays will now run slightly later at 20:20 to allow for better connections from Musgrove Park Hospital.
Service 75 (Bridgwater – Puriton – Woolavington - Street)
Services 37 and 73 are renumbered as service 75 and revised to better match customer demand. This service will run approximately every two hours between Street and Bridgwater with additional buses between Bridgwater and Woolavington. Off peak journeys will continue to serve Eastern Avenue in Bridgwater.
Service X75 (Wells to Bridgwater College)
There are no changes to the Service X75 timetable.
Service 623 (Bridgwater College – Rockwell Green)
There are no changes to the Service 623 timetable
Taunton Area Services
Taunton Town Service 1 (Parade - Wellsprings)
To better match customer demand and to improve reliability, service 1 is reduced in frequency for most of the day on Mondays to Saturdays to every 15 minutes instead of every 10 minutes. The early morning and late afternoon Saturday service will now be every 20 minutes.
Taunton Town Service 2 (Parade - Priorswood)
Departure times on service 2 are slightly revised.
Taunton Town Service 3 (Parade – Bishops Hull)
There are no changes to the Service 3 timetable.
Taunton Town Service 4 (Parade – Lane Estate)
There are no changes to the Service 4 timetable.
Taunton Town Service 5 (Parade – Calder Crescent) and Service 6 (Parade – Juniper Road)
To better match customer demand in the Holway area, Service 5 will no longer operate but Service 6 is revised to become a circular service combining most of existing routes 5 and 6 while still providing a bus every 30 minutes to and from Taunton Parade. This service will run in an anti-clockwise direction serving the following roads: From Taunton Parade via East Street, Silver Street, South Road, Shoreditch Road, Chestnut Drive, Lime Crescent, Juniper Road, Chestnut Drive, Ashbourne Crescent, Normandy Drive, Lisieux Way, Wordsworth Drive, South Street and East Street to Taunton Parade.
Rowan Drive and Hawthorn Road on the current service 6 will no longer be served and customers will need to walk to Chestnut Drive instead.
Redlake Drive, Thames Drive and Calder Crescent on the current service 5 will no longer be served. Customers from Redlake Drive will need to walk through to new stops in Ashbourne Crescent on the revised service 6 and customers from Thames Drive and Calder Crescent will need to walk through to Hamilton Road where service 21 runs at least every 15 minutes into Taunton.
Taunton Town Service 7 (Parade - Galmington)
Departure times on service 7 are revised.
Taunton Park & Ride Service PR1 (Taunton Park & Ride via Musgrove Park Hospital)
There are no changes to the Service PR1 timetable.
Taunton Town Service 9 (Parade – Musgrove Park Hospital)
Departure times on the Sunday and Public Holiday service 9 are revised.
Service 21/21A/ (Taunton – Burnham-on-Sea)
Service 21/21A timetable is revised with the frequency between Burnham-on-Sea, Sea View Road and Bridgwater Bus Station being reduced to every 30 minutes to better match customer demand. Buses between Bridgwater Bus Station and Taunton Bus Station will continue to run every 15 minutes for most of the day. The last bus between Taunton and Bridgwater on Mondays to Saturdays will now run slightly later at 20:20 to allow for better connections from Musgrove Park Hospital.
Service 22/22A (Taunton – Tonedale / Rockwell Green)
There are no changes to the Service 22/22A timetable but Somerset College will be served by the stop on Wellington Road rather than the Somerset College lay-by on journeys towards Taunton.
Service 25 (Taunton – Cotford St. Luke - Dulverton)
There are minor changes to the Service 25 timetable with the 05:20 Taunton to Dulverton on Mondays to Fridays and the 19:10 Dulverton to Taunton on Mondays to Saturdays services no longer serving Bindon Road or Cotford St Luke.
Service 28 (Taunton – Minehead)
There are changes to the Service 28 timetable with off peak journeys on Mondays to Saturdays running 10 minutes later in both directions to offer better rail connections at Taunton. There are also minor changes to peak time journeys plus additional journeys from Minehead to Taunton at 18:00 and from Taunton to Minehead at 19:15. The last bus between Taunton and Minehead on Mondays to Saturdays will now run slightly later at 20:15 to allow for better connections from Musgrove Park Hospital and at Taunton Railway Station.
Service 29 (Taunton – Wells)
Service 29 is increased in frequency to run every hour, replacing the withdrawn hourly service provided by service 55 for customers travelling between Taunton and Street, Glastonbury or Wells. Most journeys will operate via Ruishton and Creech St Michael giving a much improved service to these villages although a few very early morning and late evening journeys will run directly via the A38 between Taunton and Walford Cross.
Service 30 (Taunton – Axminster)
There are no changes to the Service 30 timetable.
Service 54 (Taunton – Langport – Somerton – Yeovil)
The timetable on service 54 is revised but continues to run hourly from Taunton to Yeovil via Curry Rivel, Langport and Somerton. Customers that previously used service 55 to travel from points between Henlade and Langport to Street, Glastonbury or Wells will be able to use service 54 to Somerton (Behind Berry stop towards Yeovil and The Square towards Taunton) where there is a connection with service 77 to or from Street, Glastonbury and Wells, although this is not guaranteed. The waiting time in Somerton is approximately 12 minutes in each direction.
Service 55 (Taunton – Langport – Somerton – Street – Wells)
To better match customer demand, service 55 is withdrawn. Customers travelling between Taunton, Curry Rivel, Langport and Somerton will still be served by the hourly service 54 and customers travelling between Somerton and Street, Glastonbury or Wells will still be served by the hourly service 77 which will now run via Overleigh and Ivythorn Road in Street to replace service 55. Customers that previously used service 55 to travel from points between Henlade and Langport to Street, Glastonbury or Wells will be able to use service 54 to Somerton (Behind Berry stop towards Yeovil and The Square towards Taunton) where there is a connection with service 77 to or from Street, Glastonbury and Wells, although this is not guaranteed. The waiting time in Somerton is approximately 12 minutes in each direction. Customers travelling from all points in Taunton to Street, Glastonbury and Wells will still be served by service 29 which is now increased in frequency to run every hour.
Service 77 (Wells – Street – Somerton – Yeovil)
The timetable on service 77 is revised but continues to run hourly from Yeovil to Wells via Somerton, Street and Glastonbury. Service 77 will no longer serve Middle Brooks, Brooks Road, Smithfield Road, Oakfield Road, Ringolds Way or Stonehill but will instead serve Overleigh and Ivythorn Road to replace the withdrawn service 55.
NEW Service 99 (Taunton – Chard via Buckland St Mary)
A new service 99 is introduced between Chard and Taunton serving Combe St Nicholas, Buckland St Mary and Staple Fitzpaine. This will run at two-hourly intervals and will replace most of the route previously served by Stagecoach South West service 99. The section between Taunton Bus Station and Musgrove Park Hospital is no longer served but customers can change at Taunton Bus Station onto service PR1 which runs to Musgrove Park Hospital every 15 minutes. Through tickets are available.
Service 623 (Bridgwater College – Rockwell Green)
There are no changes to the Service 623 timetable
Minehead Area Services
Service 10 (Minehead – Porlock Weir) and Service 101 (Minehead Town Service)
Services 10 and 101 are withdrawn due to low customer demand for these services.
Service 14 (Bridgwater – Cannington)
To better match customer demand, Service 14 is revised to run hourly between Bridgwater and Cannington only with the section of route between Cannington and Minehead being withdrawn. The early morning and evening extension to Nether Stowey and the Bridgwater College day extension to Stogursey and Shurton will continue to run.
Service 15 (Bridgwater College – Minehead)
There are no changes to the Service 15 timetable.
Service 28 (Taunton – Minehead)
There are changes to the Service 28 timetable with off peak journeys on Mondays to Saturdays running 10 minutes later in both directions to offer better rail connections at Taunton. There are also minor changes to peak time journeys plus additional journeys from Minehead to Taunton at 18:00 and from Taunton to Minehead at 19:15. The last bus between Taunton and Minehead on Mondays to Saturdays will now run slightly later at 20:15 to allow for better connections from Musgrove Park Hospital and at Taunton Railway Station.

Thursday 27 October 2016

Buses in Bath are paying a high price for congested roads

Here is an extract of a letter we sent to Councillor Turner of BaNES council a month ago for those that may be interested.
.......As the one of largest independent operators of buses in Bath we despair at the attitude of Bath and North East Somerset Council towards buses and coaches.
Traffic in Bath is notoriously unpredictable and therefore we build contingencies into our timetables to try and allow delayed buses to get back on time and comply with our obligations to the lic...encing authorities. The problem arises when a bus does arrive on time is that the driver then has nowhere to go. We are allowed to stand on bus stops for up to ten minutes as long as the driver remains on the bus. When drivers either leave the bus for a ‘call of nature’ or drive around the corner to move out of the way, we are hounded by traffic wardens who regularly ‘ticket’ our buses.
What are we supposed to do ?
Bath is a World Heritage City. Regardless of the council’s political tendencies, there should be a realisation that buses and coaches are better than cars when it comes to reducing traffic, congestion and pollution. We often hear that a bus can replace 50 cars and this is a good thing. We have never heard a complaint that a coach is using up three car parking spaces and this is a bad thing.
Yesterday, the 19th September Bath once again suffered gridlock in the afternoon. Some buses were up to 35 minutes late. Perhaps the bus companies should close for a day to prove to Bath how much it needs public transport ?
We; The bus companies, the politicians, the local council, the residents should all work together to make Bath open to efficient public transport. Otherwise we may as well just have to accept that the battle is lost and Bath is just another victim of the motor car......
Here we are a month later and nothing has changed

Tuesday 25 October 2016

The new way forward for bus travel

So why are First bus  encouraging you to buy your bus tickets on the free First Bus mTickets app?
See for yourself the difference between boarding a bus with customers paying by cash v mTickets. The results are unbelievable... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtUGq15dsnU&feature=youtu.be

                                                          VS




Sunday 23 October 2016

NEW West of England group ticket available from 30th October 2016

5 people can travel anywhere across the west of England zone for £15 a total of £3 each ( your group must travel together through out your journey) Great for a day out Christmas shopping or to get to the office party. This ticket offers unlimited travel across the West of England zone in one given day. You could use the ticket in the morning to buy presents and that new party wear and catch the bus to your party
( Some examples across the West of England zone Frome, Bath, Bristol, Wells, Glastonbury, Street, Shepton Mallet, Melksham, Salisbury, Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Devizes and (Chippenham  evenings only using First buses x31)




Friday 21 October 2016

Room on the 267 bus after a Bath rugby match

It was standing room only on the 2310 from Bath on the 20/10/16 after a Bath rugby match. I hope that the 267 isn't cut next year or these fans will no longer be able to follow their team


Spotted beside the 267 bay

Spotted beside Bay 10  for the 267 a  notice about the new fares in Bath. Their was mention of the new Bath outer evening ticket which will save you £1.50 for an evening out from the 30th Oct ( new price is £5 adult or £3.20 student) Their is also mention about the new group ticket that allows 5 passengers to travel for £15 ( so long as you all remain travelling together )





Friday 14 October 2016

First bus announce unexpexted CUTS and CHANGES acrosss the county

First bus announce major cuts and changes across the region from the 30th October 2016. Bus cuts were already announced In Minehead earlier this week. We have now heard that the axe has also been swung in  Street and Wells as well. Their will also be major changes taking place in Taunton, Bridgwater, Chard, Yeovil and Burnham on see. To read the full story on how these bus cuts and changes will affect you use this link provided http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/first-bus-services-cut-to-match-customer-demand/story-29801445-detail/story.html



Sunday 9 October 2016

Delighted to see that Simon Cowell has decided to catch the bus to the first of The X Factor live shows on Saturday evening!
#XFactor #CatchTheBus #ITV



Tracey Harding, Norman Browne (bus campaigner in Yeovil who has the Somerset Catch The Bus Campaign t shirt) and I attended the Travel Watch Southwest meeting today. Norman gave a passionate speech about the importance of buses and how Yeovil is a "ghost town without evening buses".






Tuesday 20 September 2016

Frome Town Council are holding a public meeting on Wednesday 21 September at 7.00 pm at Rook Lane Chapel. On the agenda will be the 267 bus and whether Frome Town Council should contribute something towards the bus services.
Do come along if you can to show some support and join in the discussion!




A busy few days on the 267 First Bus front....
Today was the BaNES Transport Committee meeting where we were presenting our case for the 267!
Big thank you to Linda Oliver (Somerset County Councillor for Rode and Norton St Philip and Mendip District Councillor for Frome North, Beckington. Norton St Philip and Rode).and Adam Boyden, Mendip District Councillor for Frome's College Ward) for their time and effort over the last few weeks and also taking the time to present to ...BaNES today.
A big we'll done to Frome and Villages Bus User Group's (FAVBUG) Tracey Harding who also presented to BaNES today....

This meeting was also attended by James Freeman MD and Andrew Sherrington  from First bus, and David Redgewell MD from bus users UK





Thursday 15 September 2016



 preparing to talk at #BaNES full council meeting on buses. I was asked at very short notice to read a speech at B&NES full council meeting yesterday. I was asked to read somebody else's long speech in 3 minutes which I knew I had no time to do. I took the very bold move after addressing my audience and said I assume that you have all read this paper before this meeting and went with my own on the 267.
I started with the West of England devolution deal
How much per head that they fund and how much they get back in customer spending
The affects on low paid workers. Managed to get in that it will cost commuters who work unsociable hours an extra £22.20 to get to work by train.
Lack of consultation notices
Length of their consultation period ( 3 weeks ) Wiltshire's consultation ran for 3 months and SCC for a month and a half

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Deadline to save the 267 evening bus is Friday the 16th September
If you rely on public transport this would mean
No more nights out in Bath
No more opportunities to go to evening education classes
Commuters who work late couldn't get home...
People who need to go to evening hospital appointments / see relatives in hospital couldn't get home
E mail your thoughts on the proposed cuts to public_transport@bathnes.gov.uk
This should only take you a few minutes of your time to do. Thank you for your support




Wednesday 7 September 2016

Cllr Lin Patterson (Lambridge) was out with others late Saturday night protesting at the last Number 6 bus to serve the residents of her ward. Thank you to those attending.
In a letter to the Chronicle she had this to say...
"The brutal bus route amputation between Fairfield Park and Larkhall and also severance of both from the London Road is causing untold distress.
...
I believe that if people were aware of the true cost of this cut, particularly in terms of the widespread disruption, personal loss and social isolation, they would appreciate why the campaign has to win, and support it, as local people are." - Lin Patterson
Please help and support the community in Lambridge and Lin's campaign by signing the petition instructing BaNES Council to review First Bus' decision.
https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-our-6-7-bus.html


Tuesday 6 September 2016

FROME AND THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES IS LIKELY TO LOSE ITS EVENING 267 BATH/FROME SERVICE
BaNES is consulting on ending its subsidy of 267 evening services and that could mean the end of 267 evening services between Bath and Frome.
If you are one of those that some times uses those evening services and you want to try and keep it, then you need to apply pressure on Bath businesses to write to BaNES asking them to maintain their subsidy of the 267.
...
Below is a note that might form the basis of a letter/email for you to send to any Bath businesses (pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs, theatres and cinemas) that you go to in the hope those businesses will ask BaNEs to keep the 267 evening services.
Dear
I am an occasional patron of yours on my evening nights out in Bath. I would very much like to continue to be able to be a patron of your business.
BaNES is faced with tough decisions going into its 2017/18 budgeting process and is looking to make cuts.
One of those possible cuts is a relatively modest £18,000 grant that maintains the evening services of the 267 bus service to Bath from Frome and villages.
Every evening this 267 bus service brings a lot of spending power into Bath. It allows people from Frome and neighbouring villages to have a night out in Bath without the problems of drinking and driving.
It has been estimated that each passenger typically spends around £30 per head during a night in Bath.
On the basis of 10,000 bus passengers over the year that would add up to £300,000. A pretty good ROI on an £18,000 investment. Plus all the social benefits this bus service delivers.
We therefore would urge you to take part in BaNES’ consultation process over this £18,000 subsidy for the 267.
If you agree with me this subsidy should be maintained because of the revenue it delivers to Bath businesses, educational establishments etc, then please send your views to: public_transport@bathnes.gov.uk putting into your email header: 267 Bus Service between Frome and Bath.
Many thanks


Friday 26 August 2016

Frome and Villagers Bus User Group called an emergency meeting on Tuesday 23 August this week to discuss this crisis facing Frome bus users.

It was attended by 15 Councillors including Somerset County and Mendip District Councillor, Linda Oliver, Mendip District Councillors, Damon Hooton and Adam Boyden, BaNES Councillor Neil Butters along with Frome Town Councillors and parish Councillors from Rode, Norton and Hinton Charterhouse (all these are villages are on the 267 route) and the FAVBUG Committee (including Tracey Harding, Lucy Travis and Peter Travis).

Thank you to The George Hotel in Frome Market Place for the meeting room.

Swathing bus cuts across Somerset

Last minute timetable changes to the 178 Radstock to Bristol service show that B&NES are making swathing cuts to evening and weekend buses. Are any buses that they fund safe

Late changes confirmed to the 178 RADSTOCK - BRISTOL service from the 4th September.
Its been confirmed today, that the journeys operating on a Sunday and Public Holiday will now be withdrawn meaning that Service 178 will only operate Monday to Saturday.
The 23:20 journey that also was going to operate with financial support from Bath and North East Somerset, has been withdrawn.
Journeys on a Sunday, can only operate under financial support from the local authority, wh...o have pulled out at the last minute.
This means that the information booklet printed by the bus company is INCORRECT!!!

Thursday 25 August 2016

Lights out for nights out

Another bitter blow for Frome and the surrounding villages after B&NES announced their proposal to cut the funding to the 267 evening service. B&NES are proposing to cut the funding to all 5 of the 267 buses which they fund. If the proposed cuts go ahead bus users will no longer be able to catch a bus after 8pm and will result in the loss of Frome's only evening bus. To read about the consultation and to air your views use the link provided   http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/…/your-council-and-…/consultations









Monday 22 August 2016

THREAT TO 267 FROME TO BATH EVENING SERVICE

Now A Threat To Our Evening 267 Bath Bus
“The Council is considering changes to supported bus services to be implemented from May 2017.”
In that short sentence Bath and North East Somerset Council (BaNES) has raised the spectre of their axe falling on the evening services from 8pm from Bath to Frome for the 267 bus services This would mean a loss of 5 buses on the route
...
In the current era of austerity, County Councils are having to make big cuts to their budgets. Bus subsidies is one area that is being very hard hit. Hefty cuts have already been made to Somerset’s already modest bus subsidy budget, Wiltshire is in the process of making cuts too and now BaNES is embarking on a review of bus subsidies to see where cuts can be made from May 2017.
For many years BaNES has subsidised the 267 Bath to Frome evening services. Somerset stopped subsidising the 267 route in 2011. Bus services that straddle two or more counties are always more prone to bus cuts. Also a new West of England Mayor who would have great transport powers (and thus money) is likely to be established in 2017 which would cover the areas of: Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Most of the 267 route would fall outside the West of England area.
To read about the consultation click on this link : http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/…/your-council-and-…/consultations
Why does BaNES subsidise a route that mainly serves people who live in Somerset and not in BaNES?
Because the 267 brings a lot of business to Bath’s nighttime economy, hence the 267 is good for Bath businesses!
We have a meeting on Tuesday night and will post a further update after that about planned action and what you can do.
If you are from the press we will make contact with you the end of this week so please don't jump the gun and feature this news yet.
Lucy Travis and Tracey Harding
Frome and Villagers Bus User Group


Wednesday 17 August 2016

Pick up your guide Now which will explain all of the forthcoming changes to bus services in and around Bath from 4/ 9/16. I picked my copy up on the 267 bus so other  First buses may also be carrying them or you can find copies at the bus stations


Monday 15 August 2016

x67 and x34 new bus timetables for the 4th September 2016

Timetables are available to view now at www.faresaver.co.uk
Printed versions will be available on bus and at various outlets including Tourist Information and Town Councils later this month

Changes to Somerbus services from the 4th September 2016

From Sunday 4th September 2016. The Following routes will no longer be operated by SOMERBUS •Route 82/82A - Will cease to operate under SOMERBUS; However Frome Minibuses will operate the Mon-Fri timetable. However the Saturday timetable will be withdrawn
•Route 175 - Will be wthdrawn by current operator. First West of England will run a replacement route 171; However the 06:25 & 06:45 from Midsomer Norton to Bath will not operate und...er the new route by First West of England. Nor will the 06:58 from Clutton and the 17:25 to Clutton from Bath.
Wessex Bus will no longer operate the 620 between Bath and Yate Shopping Centre. Stagecoach West will operate a new service. Including a new morning journey into Bath.
New Routes •42 Between Odd Down Park and Ride and Royal United Hospital
•17 Between University of Bath - Whiteway - Twerton - Bus Station - University of Bath.
University of Bath routes U10, U18, X18 Have yet to be confirmed

Links to changes happening with First West of England buses from the 4th september 2016

Bus services across the West of England are changing on the 4 September (WS). To view the new timetables visit www.firstgroup.com/newtimetables
For information on what's changing in Bristol visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/significant-bus-service-change…
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For information on what's changing in Bath visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/bath-city-bus-network-redesign…
For information on what's changing in Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, and Wells visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/buses-running-throughout-mendi…
For information on what's changing in North Somerset visit:
https://www.firstgroup.com/…/bus-services-north-somerset-be

Wednesday 3 August 2016

Bus driver gets a parking ticket for parking at Ambory bus stand this is so wrong and unjust