Bus fans' anger over route axing

First Group says the route is no longer financially viable

Angry bus users took to the streets of Somerset on Saturday to protest over the axing of a popular route.

Villagers walked from Timsbury to nearby Farmborough to highlight the ending of the 178 First Bus service.

First Group suggested users should catch services from Farmborough but protesters said the country road was highly dangerous for walkers.

The bus operator said the 178 service was being axed because it was no longer financially viable.

'Commercial viability'

Russell Barrington-Crow, of First's bus operations in Bath said: "We constantly monitor the number of customers using our services and try to respond wherever possible to meet our customers needs.

"Service 178 between Bath and Bristol operated via Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Marksbury, and Keynsham.

"There were very few customers getting on or off the bus at Timsbury. As a result, and to ensure the commercial viability of this service we informed the council in the normal way, that the service would stop serving Timsbury from 24 July."

Carole Watts of the protest group said: "We end up with one bus a week going to Bristol on a Tuesday which is no good for anyone.

"We need some of the service restored so that people can get to and from work."