A significant portion of Bath and North East Somerset faces the prospect of losing all bus services as funding for the two essential routes, X91 and 99, is set to expire in March. These buses were introduced to serve the Chew Valley after 2023’s bus cuts left the area without public transport. Local residents and councillors recently urged Bath and North East Somerset Council to collaborate with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to secure continued support for the routes.
Speaking at the council meeting on November 20, Phil Collins from the Chew Valley CIC Sustainable Transport Partnership highlighted the severity of the potential loss: “If the X91 and the 99 aren’t continued, the whole of the Chew Valley and indeed all of B&NES from the A37 westwards would be without any timetabled bus services.”
Operated by The Big Lemon bus company, the X91 provides a direct link between Chew Valley and Bristol, while the X99 completes a figure-of-eight circuit around local villages. These services were among the first established through WECA’s WESTlocal scheme, which supports community-led transport solutions. Jackie Head noted the growing demand: “The X91 started strong with great passenger numbers. Now, 18 months later, ridership has tripled.”
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Elaine Workman cautioned councillors against making premature judgments based on incomplete data, emphasizing the operational challenges both routes face. She explained, “The X91 travels to Bristol but is not allowed to pick up passengers after Imperial Park due to WECA’s agreement with First Bus, passing many potential riders it cannot serve.” She added that the rural nature of the X99 route means many stops lack basic infrastructure like shelters or phone signal, leading to significant underreporting of passenger numbers—41% of usage data was missing in one month alone.
Chew Valley councillor David Harding stressed the broader impact of losing these bus links: “The Chew Valley is the worst connected area in B&NES for public transport. This lack of access isolates residents and harms the rural economy.” Both Harding and fellow councillor Anna Box, who regularly use the buses themselves, shared stories of how vital these routes are—from hospital visits and socializing in Bristol to school commutes and shopping locally.
Anna Box appealed directly to the council leadership, saying, “Our duty as public servants is to support our residents. Continuing to lobby WECA for rural bus funding must remain a high priority. These services are socially necessary.”
Simon McCombe, newly elected Liberal Democrat councillor for Mendip ward, called the buses “vital arteries” for the community. He warned, “The risk of losing funding for these routes would be devastating. It would cut off lifelines, undermine sustainability goals, and weaken community life across Chew Valley. WECA must keep the funding in place.”
As the March deadline approaches, the future of these crucial transport links remains uncertain, with many calling for urgent action to preserve the lifelines they provide.