With only a matter of days before the X86 bus service from Broughton Gifford and Holt to Bath was to be axed, Wiltshire Council have backed down, and agreed to carry on funding the morning service until January, when a further review is carried out.
However the 5.30pm return trip from Bath will be withdrawn, with the council still claiming the service is under used.
Independent councillor for Melksham Without North, Terry Chivers said, “This is a part victory; at least the council has admitted they got the figures wrong, and they failed in the consultation with the passengers. I am still very concerned that we are going to lose the return trip; there seems little point in passengers using the outward bus if they can’t get home in the evening. Faresaver Buses have offered to carry on running the return bus for just £35 per evening, which doesn’t seem much to me, when you see the amount the council waste. So I’ll continue to campaign for the service to be reinstated.”