A friend in the Ramblers sent me this earlier today – am a bit gutted as have been known to use this service to walk up to Wayland’s Smithy.
“Thamesdown Transport’s route 47 between Swindon and Lambourn, via Bishopstone and Ashbury, is to be withdrawn. This will leave several villages without a bus service and make it more difficult to do linear walks along that part of the Ridgeway. At the time of writing it is unclear whether the Ridgeway Explorer bus X47, which runs only on Saturdays, will continue.”
I despair!
Sad news.
The stark truth is that bus services in rural areas will continue to be cut and cut, as local authorities cannot afford to subsidise them. We have escaped fairly lightly in Glos so far, I know that Shropshire (for example) has been badly affected - the service that goes near to Mitchell's Fold has been much reduced.
The difference between a public service and a profit-making private enterprise, sadly.
A Ramblers friend who works tirelessly as Walking Environment Officer for the North Wilts Group - has just sent this update out:
"At last night's Cabinet meeting the Cabinet did a U-turn in the face of strong public opposition and have agreed not to withdraw their financial support for the 47 bus while they carry out discussions with West Berks and Oxfordshire councils about the possibility of a joint funding agreement for a community bus to serve the villages affected."
That's great news June - now everyone in the area needs to use it!