Bristol bus cuts leave elderly in Ashton Vale 'isolated'

A community containing many elderly and disabled people has been left feeling "abandoned" after recent bus cuts.

Residents of Ashton Vale in south Bristol say they have been cut off from public transport since the number 23 bus was scrapped in April.

Many residents now have to walk more than half a mile to the nearest bus stop.

The 23 is one of eight bus routes axed in south Bristol due to council budget cuts and low passenger numbers.

Subsidies provided to companies like First Bus are meant to pay for services such as the 23 in Ashton Vale, which don't make a profit but are still relied upon by many passengers.

However, due to inflation and pressure on council budgets, subsidies from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) transport budget were not enough to keep all services afloat.

One Ashton Vale resident, Bernice McKendrick, told councillors at a scrutiny meeting on Monday that one couple living in the area with early onset dementia have "not been out" since the 23 was cut.

"Your decisions have left a whole community cut off from normal life," she said.

"We are struggling to do normal things like shopping, going to doctors, to dentists. We have to pay for taxis just to go to the shops," Ms McKendrick added.

"The government has provided extra funding for areas like ours but we are left without a bus," she continued.

"I have invited Dan Norris down to Langley Crescent to walk down to Ashton Gate and to explain to the residents why they are being abandoned, isolated and forgotten," Ms McKendrick said.

"My husband, who is wheelchair-bound, is quite willing for one of you to push him down so that you can see how difficult it is for us to get on with our daily lives," she added.

Responding to Ms McKendrick's comments, Mr Norris said: "Ashton Vale residents are understandably frustrated that the number 23 bus was withdrawn by First West of England.

"This was a commercial decision taken by the operator. Buses are a complicated funding and regulatory jigsaw.

"Using the pot of cash for transport I specifically control, I've done things like introduce Bristol's £2 flat bus fare — four months before the government followed suit — and introduced Birthday Buses to encourage new people onto our buses," he continued.

"This really matters, as it's the only long-term solution to build the sustainable bus network locals deserve," he added.

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