After serious concerns were raised about the First Bus proposal to stop the 126 bus service between Wells and Weston, including at last night's Axbridge Town Council meeting, Cllr Graham Godwin-Pearson has written to Cllr Mike Rigby, the Executive Member for Transport, on the new Somerset Council.
The letter is as follows:-
Dear Mike,
There is deep concern in my ward about the proposals by First Bus to scrap the 126 route between Wells and Weston, which provides vital access for residents in Axbridge and elsewhere to get to work and school, the GP, shops, the hospital, the bank and other facilities.
The new developments in Cheddar were granted approval on the basis of good public transport links and cutting the service that connects the ribbon of towns and villages along the route will lead to isolation and hardship, as well as creating more car journeys.
I read with interest the plans to introduce £1 bus fares in Taunton from next month, transport hubs in Taunton and Somerton and congestion-tackling measures in Bridgwater - schemes that will doubtless be welcomed in those communities.
In order to tackle climate change, it is vital that we encourage people to use public transport, not just in their short journeys into town in the larger urban centres, but also between villages and amenities in the more rural parts of the county. We should be adding routes, not removing them.
Should First Bus not be willing to continue to operate the 126, can I ask that Somerset plugs the funding gap to ensure the continuation of the route, without a break in service?
Part of the problem may be the high cost of fares, which disincentivise those with cars from using the bus. Further, therefore, I would ask you please to consider extending the £1 bus fare to our rural bus networks.
All the very best,
Graham Godwin-Pearson
Sedgemoor District Councillor for Axevale
Graham says, "If First Bus deem the route not to be profitable, then the local authorities cannot stop them from wanting to close it. However, we have a responsibility to support those who reply most on buses, while encouraging people to make more use of public transport instead of cars."
If you are concerned about the proposals to end the 126 service, please sign James Heappey MP's petition here:
