Campaigners plead for rural bus funding to be continued

A rural area of North East Somerset is warning that it could once again lose all of its timetabled bus services.

- John Wimperis Local democracy reporter

The Chew Valley lost all of its bus services in 2023, leaving locals stranded until a community group set up two new bus services in 2024.

The 99 'Chew Valley Cat' and X91 'Chew Valley Sprint' are funded through the West of England Combined Authority (Weca)'s WESTlocal scheme.

But now the Government has cut Weca's bus funding and Chew Valley bus campaigners say Weca is considering cutting their buses. The buses have been extended, but only to July.

David Harding, the Chew Valley's Liberal Democrat local councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council, warned a Weca meeting: "Removing our timetabled buses would leave the Chew Valley at the mercy of WESTlink demand responsive transport service.

"The WESTlink service has proved to be less than functional in an ultra rural context and cannot meet our public transport needs."