Two Bristol bus services at risk

Funding for two subsidised buses running between Bristol and South Gloucestershire could be reduced, leading to possible cuts in evening and Sunday services.

The No.5 cross-boundary service runs between the city centre and Downend, while the No.7 bus operates between the centre and Staple Hill.

Funding for both services is currently shared by Bristol City and South Gloucestershire councils.

But the city council said it needed to make savings, which could lead to evening, Sunday and public holiday journeys being reduced in frequency or withdrawn altogether.

It is consulting on the options and wants to hear the views of passengers by today.

But councillors in South Gloucestershire have asked colleagues in Bristol to think again. Not only would users of the 5 and 7 buses be affected but it could also have an impact on other subsidised buses supported by South Gloucestershire Council. These include the recently saved X27 between Yate and Bristol, which used to be run by First as a commercial service. Passengers in Iron Acton and parts of Yate faced the prospect of effectively having no daytime services until South Gloucestershire Council stepped in to subsidise the bus.

It said it would review the X27 after six months but a decision on a long-term solution could be complicated if it has to contribute more to keep the full 5 and 7 services running.

Councillors Adrian Millward, Carol McCarthy and Kevin Seager, whose Rodway ward in Kingswood is served by the 7 bus, have asked Bristol's new Liberal Democrat administration reconsider the cuts.

Mr Millward said: "We want to convince Bristol's leadership that adding to First's damaging bus cuts and disadvantaging hundreds of residents is not the way to encourage people to leave their cars and use public transport." Chris Skidmore, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Kingswood, said: "These bus cuts will add to the misery of the many South Gloucestershire residents that depend on these services."

In its consultation document the city council said: "An analysis of bus service costs, usage and the availability of alternative services suggests the Monday to Saturday evening and Sunday and public holiday journeys could be reduced in frequency or withdrawn."