From September two WESTlocal services will be running in the Chew Valley. 

Initially a once-a-day commuter route, the WESTlocal X91 Chew Valley Sprint will now offer three return journeys to Bristol from seven villages (Ubley, Compton Martin, West Harptree, East Harptree, Bishop Sutton, Chew Stoke and Chew Magna) calling at Imperial Park, Parson Street Rail  Station, Bedminster Parade, Temple Meads, Haymarket and the Centre (Broad Quay).

By having selected stops only and using bus lanes, the WESTlocal provides a fast service and will operate Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). 

A brand new WESTlocal 99 Chew Valley Cat will circulate around the Chew Valley connecting a large number of villages, medical centres, leisure spaces and shopping destinations and link in to the frequent bus services on the A37 to Bristol, Bath, Wells, Glastonbury, Street and Yeovil.  

It will complete the circular in figure of 8 route four times a day (including weekends), and on Friday and Saturday evenings a shuttle will run twice between Pensford and a large number of villages allowing connections to late buses on the A37. 

Chew Valley CIC Community Transport Partnership who have been running the  WESTlocal X91 Chew Valley Sprint since April are delighted that this significant increase in provision has been awarded. 

“I feel very proud of what our local community has achieved. We have not just got funding for a bus route, we have engaged people and helped create a warm and supportive community on board. The WESTlocal X91 Chew Valley Sprint is a solution for travel but also a resource to combat social isolation.” said Jackie Head, a member of the partnership group. 

“These new routes are a game-changer; people will be able to get around to places they haven’t visited by bus before, whether to get to work or school, to do their shopping, for caring responsibilities or leisure activities. There are so many beautiful places to see in this area and the new connections these routes provide to Bristol, Bath, Wells and beyond has the potential to also boost tourism in the area, bringing people to us using a sustainable transport option.” 

The journey towards this point began 5 years ago when, as part of a cross valley Climate & Nature Emergency Working Group of Chew Valley Area Forum, a Sustainable Transport Group first noticed that future transport plans for the area did not seem to include the Chew Valley.

Having dwindled over many years to a skeleton bus service, the Chew Valley’s final timetabled route, the 672, was cut due to a perfect storm of underfunding in public transport and reduced patronage after COVID.  

Both services will be run by The Big Lemon, a community interest company that took over running the X91 when the previous operator, Transpora ceased trading in July. Tom Druitt, CEO of the Big Lemon said: "We are delighted to be working with an organisation that so closely shares our commitment to community and sustainability, highlighting our common values in promoting eco-friendly transport and supporting local communities."   

Funding for the WESTlocal scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and was secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council. 

Mayor Dan Norris said, “I’m delighted that my Mayoral Combined Authority funding will benefit Chew Valley residents once again, adding another WESTlocal service to their local community.”

Residents who live near to the route will receive timetables through their doors and can find out more about the scheme by following @chewvalleysustainabletransport on Instagram, joining the Bus Transition in the Chew Valley Facebook Group or emailing [email protected]