With increased media interest in the First Group decision to close Bridgwater Bus depot and the involvement of both Bridgwater Trades Union Council and Bridgwater Town Council, campaigners took to the streets today to make the case for keeping it open. At a demo at Bridgwater Bus Station Dave Chapple, Secretary of Bridgwater Trades Council said ‘Bridgwater won’t give up without a fight’ and Cllr Brian Smedley, Leader of Bridgwater Town Council accused Lib Dem Transport Portfolio Holder Cllr Mike Rigby of being ‘asleep at the wheel’. As resistance builds the Town Council has written directly to Simon Goff, Managing Director of First Buses, calling for a meeting in the town next week to try to work together to resolve the crisis saying “First say this is a commercial decision -but if so it’s a mistake. Bus travel is on the increase across the country and it’s a priority for a green and sustainable future so they need to think long term not short term. Bridgwater is a growing town with increased industry coming here and its already a transport hub so it’s incredibly short sighted to close this crucial service centre now and relocate these 53 people around the county when they’re needed here along with the bus depot.”
Cllr Smedley and Simon Goff have been in correspondence this week and we reproduce the emails here.
Smedley to Goff ‘Invitation to meet’
Dear Mr Goff I am writing to you both as Leader of Bridgwater Town Council and as a County Councillor for Bridgwater to urge you to reconsider your decision to close Bridgwater Bus Depot.
Goff to Smedley ‘agrees to consult’
Dear Cllr Smedley
Thank you for getting in touch. We have been transparent about the challenges we have faced with our operations in Somerset and continue to work closely with all our stakeholders in Somerset.
The decision to close Bridgwater was not taken lightly, but to retain the network in Somerset, we have to make changes. We cannot continue to run services where there are simply not enough customers, and which therefore operate at a loss. We have maintained these at cost for a considerable time and we must now focus our resources where they are needed most, to ensure we can continue to best support the wider network in Somerset.
During the Somerset Council Bus Advisory board meeting on 25 July, I gave a detailed presentation on the rationale for the Bridgwater closure and plans for the future. In the main, our plans were well supported and Somerset Council commented on our open and honest approach. If you haven’t seen it, the session was recorded and should provide additional information https://youtu.be/ZqQmJfN7nsc
I would also like to reassure you that our operations will not be affected by the closure of our Bridgwater depot. We operate with several depots in close proximity of Bridgwater, including Taunton, which is only 11 miles away, allowing us to continue to run services without any disruption to passengers.
We constantly review our network and use real time passenger data to help us focus our resources where they are needed most. In terms of plans for Bridgwater’s new gigafactory, we are always open to new routes and services, but these would have to show there is sufficient customer demand to make them viable.
We want to encourage people to use the bus and we’re grateful to our customers and stakeholders for their support and patience. We continue to work closely with Somerset Council through the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to improve services, as well as supporting their bus user campaigns. We are also looking at ways to better engage with local communities around network changes and enhancements.
My team and I would be happy to discuss this in more detail with you.
Yours sincerely
Simon Goff Managing Director First South
Smedley to Goff ‘set the date’
Simon
You also mention the cost of living crisis and the energy price hikes that have affected you, but similarly these have affected the workers at the depot and the passengers current and potential. Obviously the economic reality is that in the future this will rectify itself and with the correct campaign for increased bus use this will increase and profits too.
Growing public support
Todays demo also saw a speech from Pete Travis of the Somerset Bus Partnership (who travelled all the way from Frome) (by bus) urging support for increased bus use and a message of support from Labour County Group leader cllr Leigh Redman (Bridgwater North) which read “I send solidarity to the protesters at Bridgwater Bus station this morning, it is a shame that I cant be with the demonstration today, i am on leave and away with my wife . if i was there i would be asking Somerset council why they are not engaging with First senior director’s over the actions, the closure of the bus depot is another nail in our transport locally ! the cuts in service will impact Bridgwater, North Petherton , Burnham and Highbridge locally . i will be asking why Somerset Council are paying First to support Taunton and Yeovil service’s while letting ours be cut? why are senior Councillors not inviting the First board or director round a local table? Why have they not called for Janette Bell – Managing Director First Bus to cone and explain herself? I oppose the closure of our bus depot that has been part of Bridgwater for many many years. I oppose any cuts to our important bus services . I call on Senior Somerset Councillors to get First around a table and sort this out for Bridgwater and our surrounding towns.”
Get Involved!
Cllr Tim Mander (Bridgwater Westover) added “The Bridgwater Bus Group is now part of the Bridgwater Transport Forum which the Town Council hosts and meet’s quarterly. If you are interested in supporting and promoting local buses please attend the next Transport Forum scheduled for Tuesday 19th September 2023.”
Don’t forget to join the Bridgwater Aerea Bus Group if you care about buses in Bridgwater – find us on Facebook or email Cllrmorgan@bridgwater-tc.gov.uk to join the mailing list.