2. The 100 bus is new and travels between Bristol and Bath as an hourly service. Bristol to Chew Valley follows the direct line of the previous X91 route and it stops in Chew Magna, Chew Stoke and Bishop Sutton (though only at Bilbie road – again this is an issue that needs challenging as it would be much more helpful if it also served at least the Post office in Bishop Sutton). People from south of the valley can link to this route at Bishop Sutton, and the journey to Bath takes in stops from Chelwood, Clutton and Temple Cloud before taking a slow route via High Littleton, Farnborough and Odd Down (where a connection can be made to the RUH) and on to Bath. It operates hourly Monday to Saturday between 6.20 am and 19.16. This service will allow children from south Bristol, Bishop Sutton, Chew Stoke, Chew Magna, and from stops on the A37 and B3115, to get to Chew Valley School, as its timings are set to meet the school run and beyond to help people get home after school clubs and events. The operator will be The Big Lemon with their familiar yellow or white livery.
3. The 101 is another new service and travels between Bishop Sutton and Radstock taking in Bishop Sutton, Chew Valley Lake, Chew Stoke, Chew Magna, Stanton Drew Roundhouse and Pensford then stops on the A37 to Farrington Gurney, Paulton (including the hospital and Tescos) and Midsomer Norton and Radstock. It will be a handy linking service on the A37 to enable some from the Chew Valley to get to Wells, Glastonbury and Street and runs every 90 minutes. The operator is Abus, and they will be using brand new Euro-6 minibuses branded in the WEST green livery. (If they happen to need to run a spare it could be white or cream/maroon/red livery.)
We are conscious that these 3 fixed route timetabled services don’t serve all areas of the Chew Valley but the good news is WESTlink bookable on demand service does, and significant changes are being introduced to the zones meaning there is greater flexibility in how it can be used. Also those areas that are served by the 3 buses may feel less need of WESTlink and will be directed to the fixed services when they go to book a WESTlink so this should free up more rides for, for example, 6th formers to get to school on a bookable ride from Ubley, Compton Martin, East and West Harptree or Stanton Drew and Hinton Blewett.
We have a real opportunity to transform the way we travel in the Chew Valley and as these services will be in place, with supported funding until 2029, there is time to really change your habits, boost figures on board and bring them to commercial viability, ensuring their ongoing survival.
Our small but focused group has, as you know, continued to work hard to lobby for service improvements and to disseminate information and would like to continue to be able to but as 2 of our 4 members are now having to step back there is a real risk that we might struggle. Please can you do all you can to encourage more people to come forward and volunteer to be part of the group – as you might have spotted on the news this week we have the ear of the WECA mayor and Andy Burnham now! (see attached paper and film).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MKKz-2SyFja1NVsHHZ6ireXrKw6MjS5T/view?usp=sharing
You can find more information on our Bus Transition in the Chew Valley Facebook page and the full details of timetables and route maps are now available on TravelWEST: https://journeyplanner.travelwest.info/routes/region/1/upcoming? and more information about WESTlink bookable transport is available below and on their website:
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WESTlink What’s changing? |
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Please see the updated service map below: |
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Please note: Advance bookings for Monday, 27 July will be temporarily unavailable while we work to bring these changes to you on Sunday. They will be re-enabled later that day once changes are done.
For more information, please visit our website at: https://city.ridewithvia.com/west-link Warm wishes Jackie Head on behalf of Chew Valley Sustainable Transport Group |