Bus services across the Burnham-On-Sea area are set to be reduced from April when the cash-strapped County Council cuts its subsidies to public transport services, it has been confirmed this week.
However, Cllr Chris Williams, who is Burnham and Highbridge Town Council’s public transport spokesman, said the cutbacks are not as bad as feared.
A number of First Bus services are set to change on Sunday 17th April, including services from Burnham to Weston, Taunton and nearby villages – the full details are listed at the bottom of this page.
Cllr Williams, pictured, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The changes announced this week are not as bad for Burnham and Highbridge bus users as feared, but there could be worse to follow.”
“The popular 21 service, from Burnham to Taunton and Bridgwater, is virtually unchanged except for Sundays.”
“However, the cuts to the 102 and 112 services to Weston will mean getting to Weston Hospital by bus in the evenings will not be possible which will affect many visitors. That is a big disappointment.”
First Bus says it has done all it can to minimise the impact on local people. Simon Cursio, Commercial Director of First Bristol, Somerset and Avon, said on Wednesday: “We have done what we can to minimise the impact of the changes, taking some risk in running some of the journeys on a commercial basis ourselves. The message moving forward is clear though, if not enough people use these journeys then they may be lost altogether, as we, as a commercial company, cannot support loss making routes indefinitely.”
New timetable information for the services that are being altered will be made available for customers during early April, approximately a fortnight ahead of the changes taking effect.
.CHANGES TO BURNHAM-ON-SEA BUS SERVICES FROM APRIL
Specific changes in the Burnham area from 17th April 2011:
Service 21/21A (Taunton – Burnham-On-Sea via Brittons Ash, Bridgwater, Highbridge): Somerset County Council has withdrawn its support for journeys operating on Sundays and Public Holidays. First has assessed the impact of this decision and will continue to run services on Sundays only (not public holidays). This is being done on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis for a trial period.
Service 102 (Weston-super-Mare – Puriton via East Brent, Burnham-On-Sea, Highbridge): While retaining its support journeys running during the day Monday – Saturday, Somerset County Council has withdrawn its support for services running on Sundays and Public Holidays. As such all journeys on Sundays and Public Holidays will be withdrawn from 17 April.
Service 112 (Weston-super-Mare – Highbridge via Brean, Berrow, Burnham-On-Sea): Somerset County Council has withdrawn its support for journeys running on Monday – Friday evenings, and on Sundays and Public Holidays. To reduce the impact of this decision First has decided to operate all Sunday journeys on a commercial basis (at present half are supported, half are commercial) during the summer (Easter – October). These journeys will run on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis. All supported journeys that operate on Monday – Friday evenings are being withdrawn from 17 April.
Service 670 (Burnham-On-Sea – Wookey Hole via Highbridge, Mark, Wedmore, Wells): Somerset County Council has withdrawn support for this service, which comprises of four journeys in both directions on Sundays and Public Holidays. As a result of this change, all journeys are being withdrawn. The Monday – Saturday service, which is currently operated by a third party under contract to the Council, is unaffected and will continue to operate as normal.
