ANGER AT CHANGES TO BUS SERVICE 75

6.42.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Oct 2008

Sign the petition to save the 75 Bus

Patchway Liberal Democrat Councillors Geoff and Jan Woodley, supported by Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate John Kiely have attacked plans by First Group to cut the route of the bus service number 75 from parts of Patchway altogether. The plans will also see the bus service terminate at the Centre in Bristol, leaving local bus passengers having to get a second bus for journeys onto Hartcliffe and Bedminister.

They are particularly concerned about the bus company's proposal to end its service to the Rodway Road shops and around Durban Road as well as Bradley Road. Cllr Geoff Woodley adds "This proposal will leave a significant number of local people without easy access to a local bus service. Residents will have to walk further and of course against a backdrop of darker evenings. Also this will have a direct impact on our local shopping centre, currently the bus service stops by our shops, under these planned changes, that will cease." Cllr Jan Woodley says "Patchway Town Council has just installed new bus shelters with real time information and First are proposing to end the service, what a terrible waste of money." John Kiely has also attacked these changes, with this part of the Constituency reaching gridlock and more houses planned, he added "We need to protect and improve the local bus services available, not make them even more remote, older residents and those with prams etc will find the ending of the service in Bristol especially inconvenient."

Patchway Liberal Democrats have launched a petition (http://www.fabslibdems.org.uk/petitions) and are campaigning against these changes to the Patchway service.

Further information from Cllr Geoff & Jan Woodley on 0117 9790158 or John Kiely on 0777 957 0915