Melksham’s villages will suffer if bus service plans get go ahead

BUS services in the villages surrounding Melksham could be cut if proposals from Wiltshire Council go-ahead. 

The cost-cutting proposal will affect services on the Zig-Zag bus service which currently runs regularly through villages such as Holt, Broughton Gifford, Shaw, Atworth and Whitley to Corsham and Trowbridge, through Melksham.

Wiltshire Council say that the Zig-Zag services are poorly used and the council intends to replace it with a more cost-effective service.

The plans are to be heard at next month’s Melksham Area Board meeting on Wednesday, 5th June. At the meeting councillors will be considering a consultation period which will end on Friday 2nd August. If the proposal is agreed, it is intended that the changes will be introduced in January 2014.

Cllr Terry Chivers, who represents Melksham Without North on Wiltshire Council, says that the current route in operation provides a vital travel option to villagers who would otherwise find it difficult to get to surrounding towns.

“I would encourage local residents to have their say on this bus service,” he said. “It’s a vital lifeline to so many local residents. So many older residents rely on this service, it’s used to go shopping and many residents from other towns use the service to visit Melksham for a day out.

“Public transport is a priority of Melksham Area Board so why are we looking at cuts to services?”

Currently the whole Zig-Zag service is funded by Wiltshire Council, at a cost of £108,000 per year. According to the council around 28,500 passenger journeys are made a year on the service which is equivalent to 95 single journeys per day.

Ian White, Wiltshire Council’s head of service passenger transport has asked in a letter for views on the proposal. He said, “This is one of an ongoing series of reviews which are looking at poorly-used bus services that require a relatively high level of council funding in relation to the number of passengers they carry.

“The reviews are also a part of an ongoing re-assessment of the bus network in the county, which aims to identify the most cost-effective means of meeting local access needs in a way that can be financially sustainable in the longer term.

“The existing Zig Zag service is relatively costly to operate and many journeys are poorly used. The council is, therefore, looking for a more cost-effective way of providing a service that meets the needs of the area at an affordable cost to the council. A possible timetable is suggested that we believe will meet the majority of these needs, while reducing the cost of operation.”

This letter asking for feedback on the proposal has been sent to town and parish councils and their transport representatives, councillors and area boards, user and community groups and transport operators, including community transport.

Questionnaires will also be made available on the buses so that users are able to comment on the proposals.