‘Wish we could turn back time, to the good ol’ days, When our councils funded buses but now we’re stressed out…

We used to meet with friends, go out and have a laugh, We would jump on a bus and we’d ride it down to Bath,

Used to dream of going places but now they’re laughing at our faces, Saying, “Wake up, we need to save money!”.

Apologies to twenty one pilots, but B&NES Council are considering cutting the funding of the 267 evening buses between Bath and Frome (the B&NES consultation ends today Friday – see here on how to respond, and my response). These are used by people in Frome, as well as in Beckington, Rode and Norton St Philip, to see family and friends and go out in the evening, and by people working or studying late. Cutting the service would cut people off from all this. Buses are used more by people without a car, teenagers and retired people. Somerset County Council stopped supporting it in 2011 despite most of the passengers living in Somerset, and B&NES have been supporting it up to now.  The Frome and Villages Bus User Group, together with me and other councillors from all parties and none, have been lobbying B&NES, Somerset, Mendip, Frome Town and village parish Councils to help save the service, including by pointing out the economic benefit to B&NES as it encourages visitors and commuters to take the bus into Bath earlier in the day, knowing they can stay late (and spend money) without adding to Bath’s traffic, air pollution or parking problems. But Frome Town Councillors now have a chance to help save it at their next meeting (see agenda), this Wednesday 21^st at 7pm at Rook Lane Chapel. If people want the Town Council to help save our buses, please come to the meeting and speak in support of the recommendations in item 4, or contact your town councillors, or me (aomboyden@yahoo.co.uk) and I’ll pass the message on.  I understand some town councillors are supportive but some will need persuading. If they don’t agree to help, the evening service is likely to end and the last 267 buses would leave Frome before 6pm and Bath at 7.10pm. And that would be bad. So it’s up to you. My name is councillor Boyden and I care what you think.

I and others will have already submitted a response to the B&NES consultation (see here), and will be speaking to B&NES councillors on Monday 19th September at a committee meeting on the issue. Please see FAVBUG’s website for more info on the bus campaigns.

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