Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has this week welcomed the news that a key bus service between Wells and Burnham has been saved fron the axe and will run until at least March 2018.
The 67 service was due to end last Friday (21st July), but after months of meetings and discussions between Somerset County Council and eight parishes along the bus route, an agreement has been reached as reported here that will see the parishes meet much of the running costs.
The 67’s previous operator Webberbus went out of business in May last year. And since then it has been kept going with emergency Council funding which has allowed the work on a community-funded replacement to carry on.
Under the new agreement the service will continue with no change to the timetable. Crosville Motor Services will be running the Burnham-On-Sea to Wedmore section and Mendip Community Transport will run the Wedmore to Wells section.
Burnham’s MP James Heappey told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “I’m delighted that the 67 has been saved. Parish councils along the route have contributed to the subsidy required and the county council has made some further funds available too.”
“This will be great news for those who use the bus and will make sure a vital link between Wells and Burnham-On-Sea remains open.”
“Councils at all levels will now want to make sure that the number of people using the bus continues to justify their investment. Many people have campaigned for the route to be saved, now that it is, I hope they’ll all use it.”
The parishes which are part of the agreement are: Wells, Wedmore, Wookey, St Cuthbert, Mark, East Huntspill, Burnham Without and Burnham & Highbridge.
Between now and March 2018, Somerset County Council and the parishes will be looking at the long-term viability of the arrangements, which will depend to a large extent on how well used the service is.
Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Town Council recently pledged to give £5,000 towards keeping the service running, as we first reported here.
