Our campaign to Save / restore the 84/5 WUE to Yate has been like a roller coaster since February 2023, with the highs of the temporary extensions and the lows of uncertainty and eventual axing of the vital bus route at the end of August 2024.
New administrations in West of England Combined Authority, Gloucestershire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council have worked collaboratively since May to fund the temporary extension of the Y8 Yate link through Hillesley, Wotton under Edge and Kingswood until the end of current contract 31st March 2026.
Connectivity is restored and this enables job seekers to widen their search for Employment.It has improved accessibility for educational opportunities. It also enables people to access healthcare, affordable shopping, recreation or onward travel links.
Visitors can reach our market town and villages to browse our shops, hospitality venues or the Cotswold Way. This is mutually beneficial to local business, local economy, and environment.
Bus travel offers an efficient, affordable alternative to car travel. However, these temporary contracts erode confidence and discourage bus use.
When people make key life enhancing decisions around education, employment or business investment, confidence in accessibility is uppermost.
Housing development and construction of Charfield Rail Station is going to rely on a good integrated bus service.
Our goal for a permanent solution to a regular timetabled cross boundary bus route is ongoing. We realise that it is critical that residents and visitors use the Y8 link in order to make it as sustainable as any rural bus route can be and to ensure that decisions can be made around funding beyond April 2026.
Finally, we would like to thank all those who made this happen, WECA Mayor Helen Godwin, MP Dr Simon Opher (Stroud) MP Claire Young (Yate and Thornbury) Cllr Chris Willmore (SGC) and Wotton’s own champion Cllr Linda Cohen (GCC) who worked tirelessly for us from day one.