Full Weston-super-Mare bus route to be reinstated

The full 126 bus route to Weston-super-Mare is now due to be reinstated

A council leader says he is "confident" an important bus route will return.

The 126 bus serving Weston-super-Mare was due to be axed last year after its full route was deemed no longer commercially viable.

New funding will now keep the full service running until 2026.

The leader of North Somerset Council, Mike Bell, said: "We are definitely working on the 126 service and getting that back as quickly as possible."

The fully reinstated 126 will now also serve Hutton and Uphill, as well as Weston-super-Mare.

At the West of England Combined Authority's joint committee on Friday October 6, transport campaigner David Redgewell urged Mr Bell to reinstate the full route.

"We've got people unable to access the hospital in Weston-super-Mare," he said.

"We have got young people unable to access the college and the bus service improvement around Hutton hasn't happened, apart from the number 10."

Mr Bell told Mr Redgewell: "We are definitely working on the 126 service and getting that back as quickly as possible.

"You are right, it is funded as part of the [bus service improvement plan] arrangement and we are confident we will get that in place quickly."

Taking to social media platform X, previously Twitter, after the meeting, Mr Bell said: "We've secured funding but need an operator."

The council had hoped it would be reinstated in the autumn, but have yet to find someone to run the full Wells to Weston-super-Mare 126 route.

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