Issue - meetings

This briefing note contains information on a number of current issues. Officers will be present at the meeting to answer questions from the Panel.

David Redgewell, South West Transport Network addressed the Panel. He stated that there was a current blockade on signage at the Bath Bus Station and that First would prefer a permanent solution to be found. He added that he felt that the reason for non-occupancy of the café was the proposed high rental charge.

He called for the removal of the ‘Gull Bins’ from the Bath Bus Station as he said they were a security risk as they were not transparent.

He thanked officers for their report which responded to a number of his queries raised in November and that he was keen for progressed to be made on CCTV at railway stations.

He said that he had recently noticed that a bus supplying a service from Wiltshire into Bath did not have appropriate accessibility. He also wished to voice his concerns over the proposed cuts to bus services in Somerset that would affect residents in Radstock & Midsomer Norton. He added that access to Shepton Mallet Hospital by bus would prove to be difficult.

He stated that feeder routes for the Metro Bus should take Keynsham, Whitchurch & South Bristol into account and that modern vehicles must be used on any of these routes.

The Public Transport Manager commented that he would take on board his comments about the bus station and wished to assure the Panel and Mr Redgewell that a new vehicle was now in place for the Freshford service.

He added that the proposed cuts to bus services by Somerset Council have been addressed by officers and the Cabinet Member for Transport and that they were awaiting their final decision.

On the matter of feeder routes he said that he was hopeful soon of a service to be introduced from Somerdale.

Councillor Lisa Brett commented that she felt the matter of CCTV at railway stations should be addressed directly to Councillor Roberts.

The Chair asked Councillor Roberts to pursue this matter and update the Panel at the next meeting.

Councillor David Martin asked if any further information was available on the bids to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The Public Transport Manager replied this was still at an early stage and that the best results would be obtained through bidding as a sub-region.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked how much funding was available.

The Public Transport Manager replied that there was £30m available across the country.