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North East Somerset WESTlocal 2V bus starts following cuts

Grant Johnson Two Valleys busGrant Johnson
The new WESTlocal: Two Valleys bus has been funded by WECA's new WESTlocal scheme

A new bus route has given a 91-year-old back her "independence" after she fought against cuts to the service.

Marion Harrington urged Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) Council to revive her "lifeline" number 82 bus service.

The cut in 2023 followed a row between the council and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) over who should pay for it.

WECA has now launched the 2V service that runs from Radstock to Odd Down Park and Ride via Paulton.

The new WESTlocal: Two Valleys bus, or 2V for short, has been funded by WECA's new WESTlocal scheme, a £2m fund to allow local communities to design and run their own not-for-profit bus services, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was told.

Ms Harrington, from Paulton, cut the ribbon to open the new service on Monday.

She said: "It's given me my independence back again."

Grant Johnson Two Valleys busGrant Johnson
Councillor Grant Johnson said residents had waited "so long" for a service that "could once again meet all of their needs"

Paulton Parish councillors Liz Hardman, Grant Johnson, and Cyril Mitchard drew up the application for the bus, which is the first to be funded by the scheme.

Mr Johnson said residents had waited "so long" for a service that "could once again meet all of their needs".

"Time will tell just how successful we can make this service," he added.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said he hoped the WESTlocal bus, along with others it had launched, would "become a familiar and welcome sight for residents up and down North East Somerset".

Grant Johnson Two Valleys busGrant Johnson
Marion Harrington (left) cut the ribbon to open the new service on Monday

"People using these services will be the true measure of success," he said.

But Banes criticised the WESTlocal scheme.

Banes deputy leader Sarah Warren said WECA had intentionally not revealed its plans for the new "2V" service, and that by going ahead, it had scuppered the council's own plans for a bus route.

"This failure to collaborate means the chance of a commercially viable service serving the same and more communities has just been lost," Ms Warren said.

WECA said more WESTlocal buses were planned in the next two years.

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