The last chance for residents and bus passengers to have their say on plans to axe several bus services in the Burnham-On-Sea area comes this Friday.
Somerset County Council’s consultation that began on 12th December ends on 13th January.
As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com here, the popular 113 bus service, which stops at doctors surgeries in Burnham and Highbridge, plus Burnham Hospital and local schools, has been earmarked to lose all funding and stop.
The County Council is also considering withdrawing funding for Burnham’s evening route 21 service, which goes to Taunton and Bridgwater.
Angry Burnham and Highbridge town councillor Chris Williams, pictured, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s a disgrace that funding for these essential services could be withdrawn. The 113 service provides a lifeline for many local people – including the elderly, disabled, care workers and young families who visit the doctor surgeries.”
For full details of the proposals and to submit comments, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/bussurvey by this Friday or call 0845 345 9155 to have a survey posted to you.
County Council Cabinet Member Harvey Siggs said: “It is a hugely difficult decision, but we just will not have the finances to keep subsidising services as we do.”
“A reduction in funding from the Government has meant that the authority has had to review how it supports bus services and subsidies can be as much as £11 per passenger on some routes.”
“There will still be an extensive bus service in Somerset with specialised services for the elderly and vulnerable, vital links to education and health and no changes to the most popular and important routes on the network.”
The council is also intending to seek financial contributions from new housing and commercial developers, and to work with parish councils and the business community for new investment in the bus network.
The results of the consultation will be reviewed with a decision expected to be made by full council in February.
