Metro Mayor announces 178 bus service will saved, keeping villages connected to Bristol

A bus route serving villages outside Bristol has been saved just days after it was announced to be scrapped.

The 178 service, Bristol - Radstock via Keynsham, was to be axed on October 8 leaving villages such as High Littleton, Farmborough, Timsbury & Marksbury without a regular connection to Bristol.

A replacement 379 service was to begin on October 9, skipping the aforementioned communities.

Metro Mayor, Dan Norris has stated, after negotiations, Citistar and Abus have agreed to jointly run a new 18 service covering the remainder of the route, with final talks now taking place.

Mr Norris said: “I promised we’d throw the kitchen sink at this, and we have.

“Thank you to Citistar and Abus for taking on this service that’s really important for local people and students in Keynsham, Marksbury, Farmborough, High Littleton, Paulton, Midsomer Norton and other areas.”

A petition was started by commuters to reinstate the save the 178, collecting more than 1,100 signatures.

The West of England Authority will invest £22,000-a-month to support the service.

The 178’s revival means that more than half of the threatened bus cuts have been stopped by Mayoral action from the West of England Combined Authority - including saving the 82 earlier this month.

Mr Norris added: “Now I’d ask passengers to use this service taking advantage of our new, cheaper fares.

“That’s vital for its future viability. I know some communities in other parts of the region will still miss out and my heart goes out to them - but I’m proud that we have saved over half of our services due to be cut. Buses matter. They allow local communities to thrive and are so, so vital if we’re going to meet our ambitious net-zero targets.”

Paulton councillors, Grant Johnson and Liz Hardman have thanked activists for applying pressure to keep the villages connected.

Cllr Johnson said: “We have been really lucky in Paulton and the wider Cam Valley, to have a team of dedicated activists willing to fight for the bus services that matter to their communities.

“Me and Liz have been inundated with stories from those that rely so deeply on these vital services, so it is brilliant to be able to keep the 178 and keep these close communities connected.

“The service has been scaled down due to the chronic issues around bus drivers, but I’m thrilled to see the constructive work that Dan and his team has put in to make this work. Conversations with residents across our area have helped produce this, so a big thank you to them for all their important input.”

There will be a 6.20am (to Brislington Park and Ride) and 7pm (to Welton) slot added to the new timetable.