Bus service improvements given green light
14/01/2010Improvements to the bus service between Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Bristol have been given the go-ahead, despite attempts by Labour and Lib Dem Councillors to put the brakes on this year’s bus service subsidies.
A panel of Bath and North East Somerset Councillors this week threw out a ‘call-in’ of the next financial year’s round of bus service tenders, which includes a significant increase in the number of direct buses from the local area to Bristol.
Local Conservative Councillors, who have campaigned for an improved Bristol to Midsomer Norton and Radstock bus service, have welcomed the news as a “victory for common sense”.
The number of buses running between Midsomer Norton and Bristol via the A37 is now set to increase from one a day in each direction to four a day Monday to Friday from April. The improved service will run via Paulton and the A37 for three of the journeys in each direction. A new service via Farrington Gurney will run to Midsomer Norton and Radstock in the mornings and return in the afternoon before continuing on to Bristol.
Midsomer Norton Councillor Barry Macrae (Cons, Midsomer Norton North) said:
“Midsomer Norton residents will be very pleased to hear that the attempt to derail these bus subsidies has not succeeded. This is a victory for common sense.
“Local Conservatives have been campaigning for this improved direct service to Bristol for years, so it’s extremely disappointing that Labour and the Lib Dems can’t support these efforts.
“We are now looking forward to this bus service improvement going ahead from April, and would like to thank the Cabinet Member in charge of transport, Cllr Charles Gerrish, for his support in this.”
