THE ISSUE
In 2022 First Bus cancelled the X5 and 126 bus routes leaving several areas of Weston-super-Mare without access to a local bus service, including Locking Castle and Weston Village in the ward I represent.
Councils do not have the power to take over bus services and we are left at the whim of private companies.
Following a successful Labour campaign, led by myself, the X5 returned to Weston Village and Locking Castle. The 126 has also been reinstated via a slightly different route than before but no longer includes Locking Castle.
THE NEWS
- Weston Mercury: Weston Labour launch campaign to halt bus cuts in North Somerset
- Weston Mercury: Councillors hit back at proposed bus cuts in North Somerset
- Weston Mercury: First Bus announce cuts to 'vital' services from next month
- North Somerset Times: Council and First Bus agree to save X5 service
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Campaign win – the X5 and 126 has returned!
After a relentless campaign and frequent lobbying I’m delighted we’ve succeeded at getting the X5 back into Weston Village and Locking Castle – ensuring the community are no longer cut off.
My focus is now on how we keep the X5 and to increase its frequency, and part of the solution to this is to deal with the parking issues which cause delays that affect the confidence and viability of the service.
We’ve also succeeded with resecuring the 126 from Wells to Weston which is fantastic!
🚌 WE DID IT - THE X5 BUS RETURNS 🚌
I'm absolutely delighted to let you all know that the campaign to see the X5 bus return to Locking Castle and Weston Village has succeeded!
I'm genuinely over the moon as I know how vital this bus is to many of you.
The X5 runs from Weston to Portishead, Monday to Friday and on Saturday.
This news is so hot of the press that the council are still in the process of putting the timetables up, so please bear with.
You can find details of times and stops here: journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/service/X5/39-X5-%25-y10-2/3
I and my Labour colleagues, working collectively with residents, campaigned to stop the cut to the ward and although the bus was originally cut, I've continued lobbying in the background. I'm glad to hear our voices were finally heard and that North Somerset Council and First Bus have reinstated this - credit to everyone involved.
Over 200 of you shared your personal stories with me about how the cut would impact you - I shared every single one with the senior management of First Bus, and also worked closely with the press to highlight the public impact of the cut. They were incredibly powerful stories and I'm grateful to those of you who shared because I'm confident they made a big impact and helped to get the bus reinstated.
My focus now moves on to trying to ensure we keep the X5 and we don't see any future attempts to cut it.
On May 4th you'll be asked to vote for the candidates you want to represent you for the next 4 years. I'm the only one on the list who campaigned to stop the cut to this ward and I'd love to represent you again - if you'd have me that is.
Please also consider voting for my colleagues Annabelle Chard and Charles Williams because I'd like some help as it's been a lonely 4 years!
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Not the best picture in the world but here's the route through the ward
Link to timetable: journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/service/X5/39-X5-%25-y10-2/3
Excellent 😀 Now for the 126...please.. 🚌
That’s great news. Are labour doing any meet and greet or presentation’s within locking to share their values and plans?
🚌 WE DID IT - THE X5 BUS RETURNS 🚌
I'm absolutely delighted to let you all know that the campaign to see the X5 bus return to Locking Castle and Weston Village has succeeded!
I'm genuinely over the moon as I know how vital this bus is to many of you.
The X5 runs from Weston to Portishead, Monday to Friday and on Saturday.
This news is so hot of the press that the council are still in the process of putting the timetables up, so please bear with.
You can find details of times and stops here: journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/service/X5/39-X5-%25-y10-2/3
I and my Labour colleagues, working collectively with residents, campaigned to stop the cut to the ward and although the bus was originally cut, I've continued lobbying in the background. I'm glad to hear our voices were finally heard and that North Somerset Council and First Bus have reinstated this - credit to everyone involved.
Over 200 of you shared your personal stories with me about how the cut would impact you - I shared every single one with the senior management of First Bus, and also worked closely with the press to highlight the public impact of the cut. They were incredibly powerful stories and I'm grateful to those of you who shared because I'm confident they made a big impact and helped to get the bus reinstated.
My focus now moves on to trying to ensure we keep the X5 and we don't see any future attempts to cut it.
On May 4th you'll be asked to vote for the candidates you want to represent you for the next 4 years. I'm the only one on the list who campaigned to stop the cut to this ward and I'd love to represent you again - if you'd have me that is.
Please also consider voting for my colleagues Annabelle Chard and Charles Williams because I'd like some help as it's been a lonely 4 years!
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Not the best picture in the world but here's the route through the ward
Link to timetable: journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/service/X5/39-X5-%25-y10-2/3
Excellent 😀 Now for the 126...please.. 🚌
That’s great news. Are labour doing any meet and greet or presentation’s within locking to share their values and plans?
🚌 WE DID IT - THE X5 BUS RETURNS 🚌
I'm absolutely delighted to let you all know that the campaign to see the X5 bus return to Locking Castle and Weston Village has succeeded!
I'm genuinely over the moon as I know how vital this bus is to many of you.
The X5 runs from Weston to Portishead, Monday to Friday and on Saturday.
This news is so hot of the press that the council are still in the process of putting the timetables up, so please bear with.
You can find details of times and stops here: journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/service/X5/39-X5-%25-y10-2/3
I and my Labour colleagues, working collectively with residents, campaigned to stop the cut to the ward and although the bus was originally cut, I've continued lobbying in the background. I'm glad to hear our voices were finally heard and that North Somerset Council and First Bus have reinstated this - credit to everyone involved.
Over 200 of you shared your personal stories with me about how the cut would impact you - I shared every single one with the senior management of First Bus, and also worked closely with the press to highlight the public impact of the cut. They were incredibly powerful stories and I'm grateful to those of you who shared because I'm confident they made a big impact and helped to get the bus reinstated.
My focus now moves on to trying to ensure we keep the X5 and we don't see any future attempts to cut it.
On May 4th you'll be asked to vote for the candidates you want to represent you for the next 4 years. I'm the only one on the list who campaigned to stop the cut to this ward and I'd love to represent you again - if you'd have me that is.
Please also consider voting for my colleagues Annabelle Chard and Charles Williams because I'd like some help as it's been a lonely 4 years!
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Not the best picture in the world but here's the route through the ward
Link to timetable: journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/service/X5/39-X5-%25-y10-2/3
Excellent 😀 Now for the 126...please.. 🚌
That’s great news. Are labour doing any meet and greet or presentation’s within locking to share their values and plans?
When I first heard about the proposed bus cuts I immediately launched a campaign called #NoCutsFirstBus which was supported by the local community who shared their powerful stories about how they would be impacted by the cuts.
These stories were incredibly sad to read but I sent every single one of them to the Managing Director of First Bus to lobby them for change.
🚌 How will the bus cuts impact you? 🚌
First Bus have announced plans to axe the X5, X2 and 126 bus routes from October. These cuts will be devastating for the community and will leave some residents unable to get to work, school/college and health appointments.
We need to fight these cuts and I need your help.
Please tell me how the cuts will impact you so I can use your stories to demonstrate to First Bus why their plans are such a disaster and they need to urgently stop the cut.
Your stories are really powerful so please do share.
This survey is anonymous and does not collect your name or email address. I'll only share anonymous stories.
Survey link: forms.gle/FNCq4Pqi76FdLUMQ8
Please share this post far and wide - we need to reach as many people as possible.
Thanks
Cllr Ciaran Cronnelly
Labour councillor at North Somerset Council
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
This applies right across North Somerset- it is particularly relevant to residents in Clevedon, Portishead, Nailsea etc. please give us your experiences.
Done
In addition I met with the Managing Director of First Bus to outline the concerns of the community and to advocate that the X5 and 126 should be retained – I also discussed this with North Somerset Council.
One of the challenges the bus industry were facing was a cut in a grant from the Government that was in place to support with the financial impact of reduced passenger numbers following the pandemic.
I wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport to urge them to change their mind. Shortly after the Government announced the funding would continue.
Alongside the campaign my Labour colleagues on Weston Town Council also passed a motion outlining the town’s concerns about the cut and called on First Bus to reverse their decision.
Cutting bus services in Weston-super-Mare – Letter_compressed
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Bus cut motion.docx_compressed
Accordion Content
Although the services were cut for a few months the lobbying continued and with support from North Somerset Council we resecured the X5 back to Weston Village and Locking Castle.
Securing yellow lines!
I’ve long pushed for improvements to tackle parking issues in the ward, including along the bus route.
I’m delighted that we’ve now secured strategic yellow lines from Aspen Park Road to Shrewsbury Bow. These new single yellow lines prohibited parking between 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday and have made a massive difference to the viability of the bus and has cut down it’s journey time.
It’s a great campaign win, but I recognise more needs to be done to tackle parking issues elsewhere in the ward – it’s slow but steady progress.
GET IN TOUCH
IÂ can help residents with various local issues who live in the ward of Winterstoke (Weston-super-Mare) which includes Haywood Village, Locking Castle and Weston Village.
Please use the contact form to get in touch with me. Please remember to provide as many details as possible, including your name, address and full details of your issue.