Be prepared for traffic Chaos

Residents in Twerton and Whiteway should be prepared for several weeks of traffic problems getting to work and back home again.

Residents for a number if weeks now have been experiencing problems with delayed buses and problems waiting in traffic lines for long periods. Much of the problems have been Road works on various Roads in Bath that have been affecting All Bus routes in the City.

It seems that just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Well its going to as the Lower Bristol Road is going to be resurfaced in several sections at a time and works will also be taking place on the Upper Bristol Road.

Roads will be closed from 7pm at night till the morning starting on 1st October all buses will be diverted during these hours but will also face disruption in the day time me so please be prepared and adjust your travelling  times.

Works in other locations will also add to travel misery.

Please follow the link to find out more this relates to work starting 1st October.

We will publish more as information comes available.

http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/streets-and-highway-maintenance/roadworks/temporary-traffic-regulation-order-notices-31

Bus services Christmas and new year

First Bus have announced their Bus schedules for Christmas and New year 2017/18.

To see the bus schedules follow this link First Bus Christmas and New Year.

Even More Busses through Twerton

Following my post in July concerning the state of the roads across the Twerton area, I am extremely concerned to see we now have an additional bus service running!

We now have a number 17 service being run by Wessex Connect that comes up Watery Lane, Poolemead Road, Wedgewood Road, Kelston View, North Way and then on around areas of Southdown before going back through town and up to the University of Bath.  This bus service is running from 6.45am with the last bus scheduled to come through Twerton at approx 3.15am

This now means that the above roads have almost 200 large busses EVERY DAY running on them. These are residential roads most of which are in urgent need of radical replacement as they were deemed not to be in a fit state to take the original level of bus usage, let alone the additional quantity now being run.

There is an infant school on one of the roads and large numbers of children playing near them, putting safe routes to school in danger and also increasing the risk of children not only being injured by the increased traffic, but their health will also be affected by the increased pollution being produced across this area.

I have written to the Council this morning and requested that immediate action is taken to remedy this situation.

Local buses in Twerton

I have tabled the following questions to the cabinet meeting on 4th May regarding local buses and poor road surfaces on bus routes

Questions to CLLR Anthony Clarke.

Again I raise questions over the suitability of some local roads to be able to accommodate large buses due to the poor condition. 

In Twerton we have large buses using badly broken up roads from 6am in the morning until past midnight.

Residents are complaining of the extra noise of these buses rattling the broken concrete slabs that many roads are made of and the further breaking up of the surface.

It would be a shame if the bus company could not run buses on part of this route due to the condition of the road. This is not just a problem with pot holes that need filling this is the fabric of the roads breaking up.

1) Will he cabinet member in light of the increased usage with large buses carry out a full study and audit of the number 5 bus route through Twerton and take action to install repairs to the road surfaces in Kekston View, Wedgewood Road, North Way and Poolemead Road.

2) Will the cabinet member agree to meet me in Twerton with First Bus to see the problem first hand for himself, and possibly take a bus Ride at the same time.

Updated bus service for Twerton

We are pleased that First bus has recognised the problems with the service in Twerton and have agreed to increase the amount of buses that are available in the area.

What should also be helpful is the reduced fare after 7pm at night to £3 for unlimited travel across the area.

What we now need is for the council to take action on the road surfaces before the buses have to stop running due to collapsing road surfaces.

A statement from first bus is below.

Service 5 – Bus Station - Whiteway
Due to the increasingly popularity of Service 5 the Mon – Fri will increase to every 10 minutes (particularly useful for those students travelling between Twerton Mill & City Centre)

Following numerous customer extra late evening journeys will run at 2330 and 2400 (Monday – Saturday)
On Sundays the frequency (daytime) will increase to every 20 minutes using bigger buses which will provide significantly higher capacity.

All journeys will now operate via Haycombe Drive (including evenings and weekends).
The timetable of Service 5 will be altered to address the current issues of punctuality and reliability.

Festive Bus Services

First Bus have released the schedule for their buses for the festive season.

Please follow the link for the schedule

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/new_service_updates/attach_1386082447_20831_XmasBath.pdf

Better Busses for Twerton ?

It has been noticeable in the last few weeks that the condition of the buses on the number 5 Route Twerton has improved and the buses with steps on seem to have disappeared.

Although First have not replied to the complaint that was submitted about the state of the buses it seems that they have taken some belated action.

Lets hope that the condition of the buses continues to improve and that they run a service in the area that is fit for purpose.

They seem to forget the promises that they made to residents of Bath when they became a commercial service all those years ago, in that the fleet would be constantly updated.

In the case of Twerton and the Number 5 we live in hope and some times in despair.

Let's have a half decent bus First

We have complained to First Bus about the condition of the buses that they are using on the Number 5 Route.

It is not acceptable in this day and age for them to be running buses on the Number 5 Route with steps on them particularly as they had new low floor buses over 18 years ago paid for with a donation from Avon County Council.

Many elderly and disabled people are no longer able to use some of the buses on this route due to them not having low floors.

The council have had the foresight to put in new bus stops that will enable passengers to be able to get on and off of the bus easily through the Bath Transportation package it is a shame that First have not had the same foresight and provided a decent bus for its passengers on this route.

Do First really believe that it is acceptable for them to be running buses on this Route that in fact are not fit for purpose the Council has invested now its time for First Bus to do the same.

By Councillor Tim Ball

New Bus Stops in Twerton

The installation of new bus stops is moving at quite a pace and it seems that most people are happy with the work that is being carried out.

The money has come for the Bath Transport Package that is support by the Government and the Council administration.

We have however picked up a few grumbles that we are dealing with such as tarmac over a gutter in Kelston View.

If you have any comments about the installation that you have not already brought to our attention then please let us know.

by Councillor Tim Ball

Wedgewood Road Bus Stop

A Water leak occurred near this bus stop nearly 4 weeks ago the repair was made but the ground has not be reinstated properly nor the signs removed.

We have asked the council to ensure that this area is reinstated As soon as possible.

Poolemead Road Grass verges

We have asked the council to ensure that they take some action to repair the damage that is being caused by cars parking on the grass verge at Poolmead Road.

We do not want to stop parking on these verges as this is a Major Bus Route and have previously asked that the verges have grasscrete installed in them.

What we have asked the council to do in the short term is to put some gravel down to protect the surface from being totally worn away.

Protect our grass verges

Add caption

Grasscrete would help here

We have asked the council to consider providing grasscrete on this section of Kelston View Close to the Southside youth Centre.

The area is a bus route used by the number 5 Bus and the grass bank is stating to get chewed away.