North Somerset Labour Party
First Bus has announced plans to axe three key North Somerset bus routes from October 2022: the X2, X5 and 126.
Withdrawing from these routes will leave communities isolated and struggling to get to work, school, college and healthcare appointments. It will be a disaster and the Labour Party in North Somerset is campaigning to stop these cuts.
These routes link North Somerset’s towns, villages and rural communities to Weston-super-Mare and Bristol.
- 126 (Weston-super-Mare to Wells), via Locking, Winscombe, Axbridge, Cheddar
- X5 (Weston-super-Mare to Bristol) via Clevedon
- X2 (Yatton to Bristol) via Backwell, Long Ashton
What is Labour calling for?
Labour is calling for First Bus to rethink their plans and stop these cuts. We are asking First Bus to hold a public engagement event with impacted communities so we can work together to ensure a sustainable bus network.
Last year First Bus made an operating profit and bus patronage has been improving since the pandemic. First Bus’ decision is premature and puts the interests of shareholders over the communities which will lose so much.
What is Labour’s campaign?
Labour has launched the #NoCutsFirstBus campaign and is calling on residents to join us by directly getting in contact with First Bus to urge them to stop the cuts.
Alongside writing to First Bus, we’re also asking residents to share their stories about how these cuts will impact them (see below). All stories are being collected anonymously and will be shared with First Bus directly to demonstrate why their plans will be a disaster for residents and why they need to urgently stop the planned cuts.
Almost 140 residents have already shared their stories and you can share yours by completing our survey at https://forms.gle/3v8NeBoWYbykuGz89.
Your Labour councillors have written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, calling on him to continue the Government’s financial assistance to bus companies until patronage returns to pre-pandemic levels and give local authorities more powers and funding to be able to deliver services locally.
In addition, they’ve written to the Managing Director of First Bus urging him to stop the cut and hold a public engagement event to discuss local bus challenges and how we can have a sustainable network.
Your Labour councillors are actively discussing with North Somerset Council as to what needs to be done to try and save as many of these routes as possible should First Bus continue with their disastrous plans.
What can you do?
You can get in touch with First Bus:
- In writing: Doug Claringbold, Managing Director, First Bus West of England, Enterprise House, Easton Rd, Bristol, BS5 0DZ
- By email: firstwestofengland@jbp.co.uk
- Via Twitter: @FirstBSA use the hashtag #NoCutsFirstBus
- Via Facebook: @FirstWestofEngland use the hastag #NoCutsFirstBus
We’ve developed a range of templates below you can use to send a message to First Bus:
You can also use a range of quotes from residents to help make your point – here.
