Following a Somerset County Council meeting this month it is official that no bus services will be cut after campaigning by a Frome and Villages Bus Users Group (FAVBUG) which was facilitated by Frome Town Council, and led by the local community.
The funding cuts would have affected the First Bus 161 (linking Frome with Shepton Mallet and Wells) and Frome Minibuses 424 (connecting Frome with Midsomer Norton) on Saturdays.
Tracey Harding coordinated events and lead a proactive movement to help others learn about the proposals to cut these routes.
FAVBUG teamed up with residents of Shepton Mallet, and worked hard to run the ‘Don’t Cut Us Off ’ campaign. Tracey is now again calling on bus users to attend a meeting on 5 March at a ‘Don’t Cut Us Off’ bus meeting at Shepton Mallet – where the managers of First Bus have confirmed their attendance. Directors of Faresaver and Frome Minibuses have also been invited to attend.
Somerset councillors Derek Tanswell, Sharon Snook, and Alvin Horsfall have also played a large part in supporting the campaign to keep these local services running.
Frome and Villages Bus Users Group (FAVBUG) were founded in summer 2014 to support and campaign for local bus passengers, in the face of cuts to services.
A number of bus companies operate in the local area, so as well as campaigning to prevent cuts to much needed services FAVBUG aims to make it easy to access information on all bus services, as well as providing the latest news in bus travel. You can find out more information here and get in touch with FAVBUG here. For more information about the meeting, or to arrange transport to attend you can also contact Anna Francis: francisa@frometowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01373 475574.
