Frome protesters in action

More support for our campaign

FAVBUG and the Don't Cut Us Off campaign were out in force at the Cheese and Grain in Frome last Tuesday, when Green Party leader Natalie Bennett came to speak about green issues, including the importance of reliable affordable public transport.

We ran a stall to give out information about the cuts to bus services and collect signatures for the petition being sent to Somerset County Council. We had a lot of interest and many signatures!

Here's Natalie and Frome's Green Party parliamentary candidate, Rode-born Theo Simon, with Lucy Travis of FAVBUG and the Don't Cut Us Off Campaign in Rode.

Please keep spreading the word about this campaign!

POSSIBLE GOOD NEWS FOR 161 AND 184 BUS USERS?

Encouraging news on alternative service providers for bus routes 161 and 184. These routes are currently out to tender, which close next week. There are numerou...s applicants, some of whom are said to be very keen. David Warburton, our MP, has been working on this with FAVBUG, First Bus and Somerset County Council, and has held talks with other providers

UPDATE FROM FIRST BUS IN THE BATH CHRONICLE

161 – Wells – Shepton Mallet
First have undertaken a comprehensive review of the Service 161. There will be significant changes to the route and timetable from 23 August:
- The five buses a day that run between Frome & Shepton Mallet will be withdrawn. Somerset County Council are investigating the impact this will have before making a decision on how best to proceed.
- The route from Shepton Mallet to Frome represented less than 10% of the passenger numbers on the 161 yet cost up to 50% of the resources required to run the service.
- The 161 will operate every 60 minutes throughout the day Monday – Saturday
- A new Sunday & Public Holiday service is being introduced which will operate every 60 minutes approximately between 10:00 & 18:00. A later last journey will operate, this will depart Wells at 19:35 these changes are being made in response to numerous requests from local residents and the town council.
There will be significant route changes to the 161.
- The 161 will no longer serve Dinder and instead operate direct along the A371, improving journey times. This section long suffered low customer use as well as difficult and challenging road layouts.
- On the outskirts of Shepton Mallet the 161 will no longer serve Pike Hill. This change will allow access to Shepton Mallet Community Hospital.
- From the cenotaph the 161 will operate an anti-clockwise loop via Canards Grave Road, Whitstone Road, Charlton Street & Paul Street. This new link will provide access to the Mendip District Council offices, Park Medical Practice, Shepton Mallet Leisure Centre as well as many residential areas.
- From the cenotaph the 161 will then operate via Weston Shepton Road, Old Wells Road and St Peters Road before joining the A371 towards

184 – Bath – Frome : withdrawn
The 184 will be withdrawn on 23 August and is replaced in part by other services.
- The introduction of new Service 174 combined with services 173, 178 and 379 means the current frequency will maintained between Bath & Radstock.
- Customers in Chilcompton will be able to use service 173 for direct journeys to Midsomer Norton, Radstock & Bath.
- Customers in Stratton-on-the-Fosse will be able to use new service 174 for direct journeys to Radstock & Bath.
There will be no First service to Holcombe, Coleford, Mells and Great Elm. First have worked closely with Somerset County Council throughout the decision making process, they are currently investigating the impact of the changes before deciding how further to proceed

267 – Bath – Frome: fewer services from Rode
To continue operating the 267, the difficult decision has been taken to remove some journeys from the village of Rode.
- The 06:11, 07:16 and 08:17 Monday – Friday departures from Frome will operate via Rode.
- The 17:10 & 18:10 departures from Bath will also operate via Rode.
- On Saturdays the 07:22 & 08:22 departures from Frome and the 17:10 & 18:10 departures from Bath will operate via Rode.
All remaining journeys will operate via the A36 between Woolverton & Beckington. This will create a quicker, more direct service for customers, this change also allows First to remove one bus from the operating pattern.
These changes will make the 267 financially sustainable and secure its continued operation.

CHANGES TO FARESAVERS x34 and 267 bus service from August 23rd

It has just been confirmed by Somerset county council that Faresaver will no longer be running the x34 to Sainsbury's from the 1st  September.


Faresaver will be changing the route of their 267 from the 23rd of August the new route is as follows.


Bath-Dorchester street, Broad  Quay (Back-Ambury, Corn street, St James Parade) Lower Bristol Road, Wells Road, Bear Flat, Wellsway, Midford Road, A367 Midford, Hinton Charterhouse, Norton ST Phillip, Woolverton, Beckington, Oldford, Frome, Bath Road, Princess Anne Road, Stonebridge Drive, Brunel way, Clink Road, Berkley Road, Rodden Road, Frome Medical centre, Rodden Road, Berkley Road, Northparade, Market place, Broadway, Oakfield, Critchill Road, (whitewell, Green lane, Weymouth Road to Frome Mkt place) Marston Lane, Sandys hill lane, Marston Road, The Butts, Butts Hill, Wesley slope, Bath Road to Frome Market


267 Buses before 9 am will carry on running on the present route of Critchill road, Whitewell, Green lane, Weymouth road to Frome market place.
267 buses after 9am will run from Critchill road, Marston lane, Marston road, the Butts, Butts hill, Wesley slope, Bath road to Frome market.
So bus users along Critchill will be able to access Sainsbury's and users living along the Butts will still be able to access the Gp surgery and Frome hospital.

161 BUS USERS BE PREPARED TO PROTEST AGAIN IN SHEPTON

161 bus users from Frome and other areas along the 161 will you be willing to back Favbug for a second time and travel with us to Shepton to help to save the 161 bus service.
Favbug will be teamed up with the newly formed Shepton and villages bus users group Savbug to fight to save the 161 do us proud bus users and stand behind both groups.
As soon as I get a date for the Shepton protest I will update you.

INSTEAD OF CUTTING BUS SERVICES TALK TO BUS USERS FIRST AS A COMPROMISE CAN BE FOUND

Bus operators instead of making cuts or making drastic alterations to bus routes, talk to your clients as they are the ones who use your services.
Most bus users would be happy to talk to you  about ways to improve your bus services if you would just listen to them.
Bus users don't want to lose their bus service and you don't want to lose your customers so just sit down and work with us as a compromise can usually be found.

HUGE THANK YOU TO BUS USERS

I would just like to say a huge thank you to all bus users who gave up their  Saturday morning to join Favbug at the Frome bus protest.


161 bus users we might have to ask you to be willing to join us over in Shepton when they have their protest. We are fighting to save the same bus so I hope that Frome's bus users will be willing to travel across to Shepton to help to protest over their as well or w could lose the link between Frome, Shepton and Wells for good.

BUS USERS VIEWS OF HOW THE CUTS WILL AFFECT YOU

Can bus users please email your thoughts on the bus cuts FAO Sam on news@frometimes.co.uk as he would love to hear your views

FOLLOW BUS CAMPAIGN GROUPS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

Bus users can follow local campaigners on Facebook for regular updates and to comment on what is being said by following:


Fav bug             https://www.facebook.com/favbug
Don't cut us off group https://www.facebook.com/groups/dontcutusoff
Save the Rode 267 https://www.facebook.com/groups/228718297320512/


You can also follow us on Twitter
@FAVBUG
@Savethe267bus
#SaveFromesBuses
#Saveourbuses
# CTBW ( Catch the Bus week )