FROME Town Council has voted to withdraw its funding of the weekly community bus service linking the villages of Wanstrow, Trudoxhill, and Witham Friary with Frome – resulting in the closure of the service.
Trudoxhill Parish Council has also stopped its support of the service after a report revealed that recent use of the service has reduced, increasing the cost per passenger significantly.
Instead, the town council will explore with users of the service and other parish councils, how lift shares and volunteer drivers could be used to support residents.
The community bus service began in 2016, supported by a consortium of villages and the town council, running every Wednesday to help residents connect with Frome on market day – it is estimated that the service has enabled 1,100 journeys.
At this month’s Frome Town Council’s Town Matters committee meeting, economic development & regeneration manager for the town council, Peter Wheelhouse said, “The cost this year to the town council was £550. This was something worth trying, it certainly had an impact, but the numbers have reduced to such a level that it is not value for money for the level of investment that places around Frome are putting into it.”
In response to the news, Wanstrow councillor Michael Gay, who was heavily involved in helping the project get off the ground said, “The typical demographic for a rural bus service is people with bus passes, who usually don’t have access to a vehicle or don’t drive. What’s happened is that the people who were enthusiastic bus users to begin with – a bus is no longer an appropriate mechanism for them – regulars are now housebound or can’t walk very far. At the same time, Trudoxhill Parish Council has a very tight budget and couldn’t carry on – the writing was on the wall.
“As much as I was enthusiastic to start up, you have to try these things. I am content that the idea has run its course, and we don’t want to throw good money away on a lost cause.
“So I’m entirely supportive of this decision – thank you very much Frome Town Council for your support, you helped to make the whole thing viable, thank you on behalf of the many passengers for whom those journeys were really valuable. Also, can I commend your officers who have been very helpful, supportive and correct throughout.”
