News / Transport
Three new bus services to be paid for by Clean Air Zone charges
Millions of pounds raised by Bristol City Council from Clean Air Zone charges are being spent on funding three new bus services.
One new route will be heading through the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial area, whose detractors have said is not currently well enough served by public transport.
The £4.7m set aside by the council will fund these new routes from April 6:
is needed now More than ever
- Service 16: from Fishponds to Rupert Street in the city centre, via Kingswood, St George, Barton Hill and Temple Meads
- Service 36 – from Highridge to St Anne’s, via Withywood, Hartcliffe, Imperial Park, Knowle and Brislington
- Service 37 – from Knowle and Hartcliffe to Avonmouth and Severnside, via Bishopsworth.
Ed Plowden, chair of the transport and connectivity committee, said: “I am thrilled we are funding these important new bus services that will connect people to their places of work, families, friends, leisure, education and more.
“It’s fantastic, that by working towards clean air for Bristol, we have been able to put money aside to invest in sustainable public transport that will be invaluable to the communities they will serve.
“This follows on from the work of a task and finish group, which involved councillors from all political parties and was chaired by councillor Tim Rippington, to consider how best to spend the Clean Air Zone income to support more bus services.
“We looked at gaps in Bristol’s bus network to identify services that would have the most benefit for people along these routes.
“I am especially pleased that residents in east Bristol will benefit from a new half hourly bus service.
“This will complement our East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial, offering residents a fantastic new resource and hopefully reducing pressure in the area.”
A bus gate is due to be installed on Avonvale Road as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial – image: Bristol City Council
Rippington added: “This is great news for our city, particularly for some of areas which have been poorly served by buses until now.
“Every Bristolian should have access to a reliable bus service.
“Whilst there’s a lot more work to do, I hope these routes serve as an important first step towards those ends.
“There are, of course, a lot more areas that need new bus routes. £4.3m does not buy very much these days in terms of buses, but we are hopeful that this is just the beginning and we can identify more funding and plug even more gaps in the future.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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