I’m aware that HCT Group will announce today that it will cease operating its services in North Somerset from Saturday 3rd September.
The services affected are:
53 (within Clevedon)
54 (Clevedon to Bristol Airport, serving Kenn, Yatton, Claverham and Cleeve)
55 (Hengrove Park in Bristol to Bristol Airport, serving Dundry and Barrow Gurney).
Having worked closely with council officers and Cllr Richard Westwood to reconnect Yatton and Claverham with Clevedon with the introduction of route 54 last year, I am personally completely devastated at this latest development, which means that the last 54 services will run on Friday.
The council is doing all it can to find solutions to mitigate the huge impact of this on residents, and at such short notice. We’re working with bus companies, the West of England Combined Authority and Bristol Airport to look at alternative options. However, so far we have had limited response due to wider market failure and driver shortages, so finding an operator willing and able to take on these routes is very difficult.
The last 54 services will run on Friday 2nd September.
A fortnight ago the council agreed an approach with First Bus to continue a reduced X5 service and we will continue to explore every possible option with operators to mitigate the impacts of the X2 and 126 which are due to be terminated in October due to a lack of driver resource.
The prospect of losing First’s X2 service next month, on top of the 54 – leaving Yatton and Claverham cut off from any bus services – is totally unacceptable.
Yesterday afternoon I received an email from a resident seeking clarification on the 54. She told me she would be telling her employer that she would no longer be able to get to work or fulfil one week’s notice.
This is my saddest day since I was elected to represent Yatton ward on North Somerset Council in 2019.
The situation is fluid and I will continue to keep residents updated with any news.
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