Green Party candidate for St Sidwell’s and St James, Thomas Richardson, said:

“We welcome improvements to city services funded by the BSIP, though it is disappointing that it will only apply to some routes. 

“On routes where there is no BSIP funding, Stagecoach seems to have gone into reverse gear, withdrawing morning and evening services on some routes and reducing frequencies on others. 

“It is high time we had a franchise model where a transport authority will set the routes, decent frequencies and reasonable fares, in consultation with bus users. Then private-for-profit companies like Stagecoach have a stark choice – operate a decent service under the terms of the franchise, or drive out of town.”

Greens are also calling for improvements to bus priority. Exeter Green councillor, Andy Ketchin, said:

“The number one complaint from bus users is reliability – buses that don’t turn up when they are meant to. The main cause of unreliable services is buses caught up in traffic congestion. 

“We need Devon County Council to be bold and implement more enforced bus lanes across the city. This will require taking space away from other traffic, but when people see buses traveling quicker and experience a more reliable service, they are more likely to use them. This in turn reduces congestion and a virtuous circle is achieved.” 

The post Changes to Exeter bus services: Greens welcome funding for improvements but accuse Stagecoach of going into ‘reverse gear’  appeared first on South West Green Party.

FAO News Editors, Political Editors

Saturday 29th March 2025

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

[STARTS] Decline in Bus Services Across Bath and North East Somerset Exposed by Government Report

The UK government’s latest official bus statistics report has revealed a concerning decline in bus services across Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES). Despite claims of bus ridership growth, B&NES continues to fall behind national and regional averages for bus service frequency and passenger journeys.

The data shows a sharp drop in bus journeys per head across the South West during 2020-2021, with B&NES (represented by the red line) remaining below both national and regional averages. The region has struggled to recover to pre-pandemic ridership levels and continues to lag behind.

While public funding for buses increased post-2020, bus ridership in B&NES has not kept pace, raising concerns about the effectiveness of this funding. The reported increase in local bus journeys (from 8 million in 2021-2022 to 9 million in 2022-2023) contradicts the decline in service frequency, suggesting overcrowding or unmet demand. This trend is evident across the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) region, with South Gloucestershire and Bristol also facing funding shortfalls. This reflects the impact of the Best Value notice, which has hindered the growth and potential of public transport in recent years.

It’s important to note that large cities, including London, continue to heavily subsidise bus services, skewing national data. Rural areas like Wiltshire are also forced to subsidise routes to ensure they exist at all. This disparity further highlights the challenges faced by smaller areas like B&NES, where public transport remains underfunded.

A report from Friends of the Earth further underscores the severity of the issue, revealing a 48% decline in urban bus services and a 52% drop in rural services since 2008. In B&NES, bus service frequency has dropped by 61.4% since 2010, with similar reductions seen across the WECA region:

• B&NES: Down by 61.4% since 2010
• North Somerset: Down by 65.8%
• South Gloucestershire: Down by 47.9%
• Bristol: Down by 40.4%

These reductions have significantly impacted local communities, particularly in rural areas. The Green Group is calling for urgent action to restore and expand bus services across the region. With ridership still lagging, it’s crucial that both the government and local authorities prioritise investment in service frequency and reliability.

Without meaningful improvements in public transport, communities in B&NES will continue to face poor connectivity, undermining the local economy and climate goals.

The post Decline in Bus Services Across Bath and North East Somerset Exposed by Government Report appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green councillor Andy Ketchin said:

“While Labour accelerated towards turning the bus station site into a car park, Exeter Greens set out to engage with local people to find out what they really wanted. Our survey resulted in over 400 suggestions, only one of which included a car park. Popular suggestions included a green space, city park or plaza and a market square or commercial space to showcase local businesses and Devon produce. Other creative ideas included a children’s play park and an arts or performance space.”

Leader of the Green group on Exeter City Council, Cllr Diana Moore, added:

“Clearly the public in Exeter are far more creative than the Labour-run Council and see this as an opportunity to develop this prime city centre space in interesting and exciting ways both in the short and longer term. This week I called on the Labour leadership to creatively collaborate with the community and local businesses and it is a step forward that they have agreed to a public consultation. Hopefully they will get the message loud and clear: no to a car park; yes to something special and distinctive.”

The post Exeter Green Party secure public consultation on future of former bus station site  appeared first on South West Green Party.

WESTlink was introduced to bridge the gap where bus services have been lost, connecting rural residents with areas where regular timetabled services are still available. It was promoted as a means to provide bus services to isolated communities, to those unable to access services due to a lack of safe routes (such as no pavements), and to those with mobility issues.

However, many residents have never been able to book a WESTlink bus, with some forced to navigate unsafe routes to reach timetabled services. Those fortunate enough to book a slot often face delays and are left stranded by last-minute cancellations. This severely limits the service’s usefulness and undermines its original intent.

“The WESTlink scheme has not delivered on its promises. The service is unreliable, and both my inbox and local discussion groups are full of accounts from residents who arrange to use the service for important trips, such as hospital appointments, only to have them cancelled while they’re waiting at the bus stop. The funnelling of public money into piecemeal public transport arrangements fails to acknowledge the reality of rural living and leaves our most vulnerable residents without transport options, which is unacceptable,” said Sam Ross, Green Councillor for Clutton & Farmborough.

Buses must be better supported to become a realistic and sustainable transport option for rural residents, as the Clean Air Zone and increases in parking charges will not reduce car dependency alone. Currently, bus services are only considered economically viable in urban areas, but the lack of adequate transport options in rural communities exacerbates inequality in access and financial burden. Without serious systemic reforms, these disparities will only worsen.

Recent data reveals that each journey on the WESTlink scheme costs £35 per passenger, highlighting poor use of public funds. Consequently, the future of the service is uncertain, with speculation that it will cease in 2025, one year earlier than planned.

In addition to concerns about WESTlink’s future sustainability and financial inefficiencies, the Green Group is also alarmed by the lack of effective communication between the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and B&NES Council. A Best Value Notice issued in March 2024 raised questions about cooperation between the two authorities, and a recent Freedom of Information (FoI) request for email correspondence revealed no records of discussions between B&NES Council and WECA regarding bus services.

“We urge WECA and B&NES Council to prioritise a transport structure that serves all communities, not just urban centres,” Councillor Ross continued. “Rural residents need a reliable, accessible, and effective bus system that connects them to essential local services and transport hubs.”

Any future strategy must address the practical realities faced by rural communities, ensuring that public transport is a viable option for all residents.

The post Greens push to get bath’s rural buses back on track appeared first on South West Green Party.