Bus passengers face changes to some services – check timetables advice

Passengers are advised to check their travel times when new bus timetables come into force in September. While the majority of routes are unaffected some services will be restructured to provide better value for money. One early morning journey and two evening journeys will be withdrawn because the cost of providing them is disproportionate to the number of passengers actually using them. The review was carried out after a public consultation earlier in the year in which 200 people took part. Bath and North East Somerset Council together with the West of England Combined Authority funds non-commercial bus services, most of which will be unchanged. Councillor Mark Shelford, (Conservative Lyncombe) cabinet member for transport and highways said: “We have been able to maintain most of the non-commercial bus network - which many residents rely on. “There is tremendous pressure on council expenditure, so we need to ensure we get value for money for every penny we spend. “That’s why we have had to cease funding for a small number of buses where the cost is disproportionate to the number of passengers actually using the service and it’s why users of some services will be asked to pay slightly higher fares to help us meet rising costs.” Supported bus services staying the same: n Services 2, 6A, 8, 9 (evening services in Bath) n Service 82 (Radstock-paulton) Service 172 (evening services to Midsomer Norton & Paulton) n Service 179 (Sunday services to Timsbury, Farmborough & Writhlington) n Services 672 and 67 (Blagdonbristol via Chew Valley) Supported bus services that are changing: n Service 20A/C (Bath circular) n Service 768 (Bath–englishcombe, Radstock & Clutton) The following services are being withdrawn n Service A4 (Chandag early morning service) n Service 179 (evening bus from Bath Timsbury, Farmborough & Writhlington) n Service 179 (late evening bus from Bath to Timsbury, Farmborough & Writhlington) There will be changes to some commercial bus services from September 2 too and bus operators will notify their customers of those changes nearer the time. For full details of all the changes to supported bus services, go to bathnes.gov.uk