A bus route serving rural communities is set for extension following the cancellation of a “vital” local service, which campaigners say has inflicted significant damage. The discontinued 84/54 route connected Wotton-under-Edge to Yate, crossing into South Gloucestershire, and was temporarily extended for three months in June before being axed in September after the contract expired.
Initially, the replacement service, the flexible WESTlocal Y8, operated between Charfield and nearby areas but did not cover Wotton-under-Edge. Now, plans are underway to extend the Y8 route—known as the Yate Link—to Wotton-under-Edge for the remainder of its 18-month trial, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority through March 31, 2026.
The extended route would also add a stop at Charfield’s Railway Tavern and reconnect communities including Alderley, Hillesley, and Kingswood.
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Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, emphasized the importance of cross-border connectivity: “People’s lives don’t stop at council borders, so neither should their buses. Reconnecting South Gloucestershire communities with Wotton-under-Edge and neighboring villages has been long overdue. This is about common sense and delivering the quality bus services residents deserve.”
Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, responded positively to the extension plans, highlighting the essential role rural bus routes play: “These services are a lifeline, connecting people to work, education, healthcare, and family. We are committed to collaborating with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and other stakeholders to build a bus network that is reliable, affordable, and meets our residents' needs.”
Barbara Lawrence, a local campaigner from Wotton-under-Edge, has expressed concern over the past service’s cancellation. In a recent letter, she noted that losing the route has caused considerable damage to employment opportunities, educational access, and shared community services. She emphasized that the route served 11 communities along a 32-mile stretch, making its restoration crucial for regional connectivity and local business vitality, particularly for visitors accessing attractions like the Cotswold Way and market towns.
Funding for the service extension is earmarked from a £13.5 million Bus Grant secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority from the Department for Transport. If approved, the revised Y8 route will commence on August 31, with detailed timetables for the Monday-to-Saturday daytime service to be announced closer to launch.