CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after news that a ‘lifeline’ bus service that was at risk of being axed in September will continue running until at least April next year.
The number 267 bus Monday–Thursday evening service between Frome and Bath was under threat following the decision by Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) to reduce their subsidy for these services in May 2017. Following this announcement, local groups FAVBUG (Frome and Villages Bus User Group) and ‘The 267 Group’ have been encouraging residents from Frome and the surrounding villages to use the service or lose it.
At a meeting last week to discuss the service, managing director of First West of England, James Freeman, credited the local groups for helping to save the service. “The efforts of bus campaigners have played an important role in achieving a significant increase in passenger numbers for the midweek evening 267 service over the past four months,” he said.
It was also noted by First that the passenger figures were currently on “a marked upward trend.”
Whilst the midweek 267 evening service is still operating at a loss, it was stated that if passenger numbers continue to rise, the service could become commercially viable in the foreseeable future.
The 267 midweek service from September through to April 2018 will be subsidised substantially by B&NES and also by Rode and Norton St Philip parish councils with First Bus covering the further operational shortfall.
Despite the good news, the campaigners are determined to continue the promotion of the service to make sure it continues past April next year.
Peter Travis, chair of ‘The 267 Group’, said, “At a meeting of the ‘The 267 Group’ in Frome Town Hall attended by councillors and officers from Somerset, B&NES, Frome Town Council, Beckington, Rode and Norton parish councils as well as by members of FAVBUG, plans were discussed for producing and distributing localised bus timetables to try and ensure residents were better aware of bus times within their neighbourhoods.
“It was also identified that there is a need for better timetable information at key bus stops and bus shelters.
“As well as this being a matter for town and parish councils, Frome North’s county councillor, Linda Oliver, said she would raise this issue with Somerset County Council.
“At the meeting, Frome Town Council reaffirmed its commitment to help promote the 267 midweek evening service.
“One new initiative that was tabled is to invite ‘pubs and restaurants in Frome and the villages to encourage their customers to leave their cars at home and instead to travel on the evening 267. This would contribute both towards road safety, as well as generating extra passengers for the evening 267.
“A new poster campaign by ‘The 267 Group’ will be launched in September with the aim of encouraging the greater use of buses with the theme of ‘Carry on Bussing It.’ This will be done in partnership with local councils and First Bus.”
