A NEW campaign aiming to protect bus services has been launched in the wake of the cancellation of the 84/85 service.

Thornbury and Yate MP Claire Young says she wants to secure the future of vital routes including those that operate across county borders.

The appeal comes in the wake of the major uproar over new reductions in key services across the area including the cancellation of the 84/85, T2 and the re-routing of the Y1.

Ms Young says more needs to be done to bring both those responsible for operating the buses and those that fund the buses together to ensure more services are not lost.

The 84/85 service - which connected many villages from Wotton to Yate - was formerly jointly funded by South Gloucestershire Council and the West of England Combined Authority.

The vital route was axed on September 1.

Commenting, the Lib Dem MP said: “For too long, residents across our area have seen their bus services stripped so far back that many no longer have a reliable and regular service they can rely upon. 

“When I was the leader of South Gloucestershire Council, I did all I could to protect our bus services - but the failure of the WECA to develop a long-term solution has meant even some of our most vital routes have now been cut.

“This is a huge issue, which makes it harder for people to access work, school, and local healthcare services, and more needs to be done to reverse this damaging decline. 

“This starts by getting those responsible for our buses together around the table.

"That’s why my new campaign aims to show the strength of feeling from local people and act as a wake up call for those who have the power to save our buses.

“This will allow us to explore where we can work together to keep services running and give us a much stronger bargaining position to push for more funding from the central Government - particularly as we expect the new Autumn Budget in just a few weeks' time.

“I urge everyone who wants a fair deal for bus users to back my campaign and help make your voice heard.”

In response to the new campaign, a WECA spokesperson said: "Though buses have been deregulated for decades, the Mayor of the West of England has been doing everything he can to protect and improve local services. 

“Dan Norris has introduced new initiatives like Birthday Buses, WESTlink, and WESTlocal to get new passengers onto buses.

"The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority remains committed to ensuring that people across our region get the bus services that they deserve, and which other parts of the country take for granted."

You can read more about the MP’s campaign here - tinyurl.com/mryvhcpp