Dear Editor,

May I apologise if any Westfield residents, or anyone else, went to Trinity Methodist Church coffee morning hoping for a word with me at my regular surgery?

I was marooned at the bus stop outside the Victoria Hall because there were no buses running through Westfield as the A367 Wells Hill had been completely closed, without adequate notices or proper warning. Even the Highways notice sent to Councillors was vague. Still, the experience did underline for me the problems caused if the 82 bus is withdrawn, not to mention the 172.

Along with a number of very angry residents I went up to Midsomer Norton, only to find that only the 174 and 379 were using the usual bus stops. Take the 173 and you could be left walking to the shops from the petrol station. No signs anyway about where the temporary bus stops might be.

People were waiting 30 minutes or more at the ’wrong’ stop for want of information.

It is not surprising people get their cars out instead, if they can.

May I also thank all the residents and friends who supported the ‘Save our Buses’ demonstration outside the Guildhall. Westfield continually gets ignored by B&NES press releases, cabinet members (see the answers to questions for Council 21st February) and the WECA Mayor whose new system will cover Radstock and Timsbury, but not, it seems, Westfield.

My next surgery is on 11th March, 10-11am, at Trinity Methodist Church hall.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Jackson (Cllr)

In a personal capacity.