‘Devastating’ and ‘upsetting’ - councillors and operators react to latest Bristol bus cuts

Parts of south Bristol will be isolated and cut off as a result of up to 50 bus services being cut across the region.

That’s the view of councillors and operators who have reacted with anger at the announcement from WECA (West of England Combined Authority) that subsidised bus routes are to be slashed from April.

Stockwood’s Conservative councillor Graham Morris said: “We are devastated to hear of another swathe of cuts to the subsidised bus routes in south Bristol.

“We think the manner in which this has occurred has been handled very badly with no consultation.

“These cuts will leave many parts of south Bristol isolated and cut off. There has been no consideration for those who are physically less able, through whatever region.”

Due to a funding row, from April a number of publicly subsidised services will no longer be funded and most likely withdrawn.

Also from April, passengers in many parts of the region will be able to catch new ‘demand responsive transport’ minibus services.

The new ‘dial-a-ride’ West Link minibus services will act almost like a shared Uber, running in Windmill Hill, Knowle, Brislington and St Annes.

Mr Morris added that he thought there are too many subsidised bus routes in south Bristol and that the bus network is not fit for purpose.

“As I said to Metro Mayor Dan Norris at a public meeting about buses last year, what we need is a root and branch review of bus services.

“Not everyone wishes to travel to the centre and beyond. What we need are better orbital routes, which will probably reduce the need for so many subsidised bus routes.

“We have a bus network where the routes are not fit for purpose. Buses should be designed to get us to where we need to go not where it is convenient for the buses to travel.

“The Councillors of Hengrove and Whitchurch Park, Brislington East and West and Stockwood wards are all in agreement as we represent areas which have amongst the worst coverage of public transport in the city.”

Tim Rippington, Labour Councillor for Brislington East, said the announcement to cut up to 50 bus services in the WECA region was ‘extremely upsetting’.

He said: “I will continue to fight for the bus services we need in our area, and will engage with WECA wherever possible to make Demand Responsive Transport work in Brislington.

“As Mr Norris has said repeatedly, however, this should not be viewed as a replacement for regular, timetabled bus services, but as a supplement. Unfortunately that will not be the case here, at least not in the near future.

“WECA is blaming the local authorities for not funding these services, but the local authorities are facing huge budget deficits and cannot afford to do so. Everyone loses eventually. It is a very sad day.”

Tim Kent, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hengrove and Whitchurch Park, said: “The proposed cuts totally devastate Bristol’s bus network. Whole communities are to be left, not with a poor service, but absolutely no service at all.

“It seems pointless talking about reducing fares and ‘innovative initiatives’ if we decide to leave whole estates with nothing, Unbelievably £1.8m is to be spent subsidising just two bus routes while nearly 50 other routes that service our communities are scrapped.

“As local councillors we have read the decision paper and it is clear this paper fails to look to protect communities, fails its public equalities duties and we are calling on the Metro Mayor and WECA leaders to think again before implementing such devastating cuts.”

Bus operator Alan Peters, whose ABus company took over the running of the 96 from Brislington Square to Hengrove Park via Knowle West last October, said the changes should have been done in stages.

“The scrutiny committee expressed concern that the change was too much and should have been done in stages but little notice was taken.

“I look forward to April to see the Westlink minibuses whizzing everywhere saving public transport in WECA. They seem to believe some magical method of public transport will emerge from this!”