Chew Valley residents are celebrating the news that a new WESTlocal service will serve their area
WESTlocal, from Dan Norris’s West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, allows communities to access cash to design and run their very own, brand new, not for profit bus.
The successful bid was put together by Chew Valley CIC Sustainable Transport Partnership – which brings together brings together: Chew Valley Community Interest Company who currently run Chew Valley Community Transport, Transpora (a local bus company with experience of running commuter routes for businesses in the area) and Chew Valley Sustainable Transport Group who have been campaigning for improved public transport in the area over the last four years.
The new WESTlocal will provide a commuter service with one journey in each direction per day (Mon-Fri) between Bishop Sutton, Chew Stoke and Chew Magna and Hengrove Park, Bristol Temple Meads, near Bristol Bus Station and the Centre. Locals will be able to book journeys in advance.
When he launched WESTlocal last year, Mayor Norris explained how “local people know their areas best” and that he was looking forward to some “new and innovative” ideas. Now he says he is “delighted that local people have risen to the challenge. It’s people power in action.”
Mayor Dan Norris said: “Jackie and colleagues have put in the hard graft to design a bespoke plan, so I’m delighted that they’ve won a WESTlocal. They saw what was really needed was a way for local people to be able to get and from work. I really hope people use the service - that will be the true measure of success.”
Jackie Head, from CVST said "We are delighted that the route has been approved for funding by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and believe it will really hit the spot for local people who have been struggling to get to work by public transport. Being able to book in advance will give people the confidence to leave their cars at home and take up public transport. This has always been our aim as a group.”
“We’ll now be seeking extra funding to provide spaces where people can safely leave bikes and e-bikes, as well as bringing cycling refresher courses and bike hire opportunities to the Chew Valley. This will enable people to walk or cycle from across the Chew Valley to connect with the new WESTlocal service”.
Simon Newport from Transpora Group said "We are pleased to add this to our portfolio of work. We know the Chew Valley well and can see how popular this will be."
Demand for this route was reported in ‘Getting to Work on Time’ in December 2023. Produced by Chew Valley Sustainable Transport group, it summarised data collected in surveys carried out last Autumn within the local community. All aspects of the routes design were built on this data.
More details of the scheme will be given at a public event in Bishop Sutton Village Hall on Saturday 16 March from 10-12.30 and reported via social media over the coming weeks.
Funding for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
More WESTlocals are set to be introduced over the next two years. Funds remain available and other community groups, schools, faith groups, town and parish councils are encouraged to apply by visiting https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/westlocal/.
