South Gloucestershire Council has been doing all it can to keep the 84/85 bus service in operation.
Working with Gloucestershire County Council, additional funding was found in June last year to support the service, while longer-term solutions were explored.
Unfortunately, no long-term funding options have been found and this means that from 1 September the 84/85 bus service will no longer run.
South Gloucestershire Council recognise how important this service is to our rural communities and we are working with West of England Combined Authority and Gloucestershire County Council to explore alternative travel options to be in place from the 1 September.
The Combined Authority has announced this week that a new WESTlocal bus service for the Cotswold Edge is expected to start on 1 September. This will be a flexible, two-hourly service covering Hawkesbury Upton, Wickwar, Charfield, Chipping Sodbury and Yate, running Monday to Saturday.
South Gloucestershire residents who need to access public transport can also use the WESTlink demand responsive transport service. For more information visit: https://travelwest.info/westlink
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Planning, regeneration, and infrastructure, Cllr Chris Willmore, said: “We have heard loud and clear the voices of residents, particularly those living in our rural communities, about the fact that without reliable local bus services, they can be cut off from work, education and opportunity.
“We continue to relay those voices to WECA, who ultimately have responsibility for local bus services as the transport authority. We want to see long-term solutions to these issues, and not just the patchwork of short-term fixes that we too often find ourselves left with. We will only find long-term solutions if long-term funding is committed by the transport authority.
“So, while it is another short-term fix, I am nonetheless delighted to see that the West of England Rural Network (WERN) have been successful in their bid to WESTlocal. WERN are an excellent example of the strength of communities working together, with local government, to achieve our shared goals.
“This funding stream is run by the Combined Authority, and the money they have allocated will enable a new limited service to operate covering Hawkesbury Upton, Wickwar, Charfield, Chipping Sodbury and Yate, running Monday to Saturday.
“This is short-term relief, but South Gloucestershire Council will leave no stone unturned, continuing to work with residents and community groups like WERN, along with Gloucestershire County Council and WECA, until we have a reliable, affordable and fit for purpose bus network for the long term.”
