To First Bus Management Team

Doug Claringbold, Managing Director
Rob Hughes, Operations Director
Rob Pymm, Commercial Director
Richard Northey, Engineering Director

First Bus is proposing to withdraw the 174 Wells–Bath early‑evening service after 5pm from April. Before making any changes, we demand First Bus fully rethink the implications and consult properly with the communities that rely on this route.

With almost no prior engagement, this planned cut would sever vital travel links for Wells, Croscombe, Shepton Mallet, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and other communities along the corridor. Workers, parents, schoolchildren, older and vulnerable residents risk being left stranded, forced into emergency childcare, incurring extra taxi costs, missing appointments and losing pay.

We call on First Bus to:

- Pause the planned April changes immediately.  

- Commit to a full public consultation with affected communities, schools and employers before any decision is finalised.  

- Assess and publish the social and economic impacts of the proposed cuts.  

- Work with local authorities and community groups to develop fair, workable alternatives if service reductions are unavoidable.  

- Provide clear and timely communication and support for users while solutions are found.

Add your name to this petition to demand First Bus consult first and put people before cuts. Join the community rallies starting this Saturday (Feb 14th) — Wells bus station, 10:00am; Shepton Cenotaph, 11:30am — and contact your local councillors to press for urgent action.