Two North Somerset bus routes axed

Driver shortages are at the heart of the problem, the council says

Two bus routes in North Somerset are being scrapped while another has been granted a temporary extension.

North Somerset Council previously warned the X2, X5 and 126 were no longer commercially viable.

An agreement has since been reached to continue a reduced X5 bus service until April 2023.

Councillor Steve Bridger, leader of North Somerset Council, said it was "deeply concerning" no solution had been found for X2 and 126.

The two services closing in October are the following:

X2 Bristol to Yatton, via Long Ashton, Flax Bourton, Backwell, Cleeve and Claverham.

126 Weston-super-Mare to Wells, via Locking, Sandford, Axbridge, Draycott and Westbury-sub-Mendip.

The council said the "significant national shortage of drivers" was to blame for the closures, as well as falling passenger numbers and the withdrawal of the central government Covid-19 relief funding in October.

'Situation will worsen'

Mr Bridger said: "Without the council stepping in, the loss of the X5 would have cut off residents from accessing vital links to schools, colleges, employment, hospitals and shops.

"While I'm relieved that we've been able to come up with a solution for the X5 to continue until April, albeit on a reduced service, I'm deeply concerned that we haven't been able to find solutions for the X2 and 126.

"Without further action from central government the situation is only going to get worse.

"Driver shortages are at the heart of this issue, and we need to work together to find a solution."

The X5 service, which has been saved temporarily runs from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol, via Worle, Clevedon and Portishead.

From Monday 10 October the X5 will run every hour between Worle and Portishead High Street between 06.30 and 18.30 GMT.

From Portishead, the service will run every hour between 07.15 and 19.15 GMT.

The council is in talks with the Department for Transport to agree temporary flexibility in funding to award First £52,550.

That amount is equal to a quarter of its overall running costs, the amount needed to operate a reduced X5 service between October 2022 and April 2023.