A NEW WESTlocal bus service has been launched to serve Keynsham.
For the first time in several years, the K1 bus will provide an easily accessible cross-town route that joins up neighbourhoods such as Somerdale to The Meadows.
The bus service has been long sought after by Keynsham town councillors and staff, and has been made possible through funding from West of England Mayor Dan Norris.
Mr Norris said: “This is what WESTlocal is all about – the community coming together to create bus services specially tailored for the needs of local people. I’m delighted that my mayoral combined authority funding will benefit residents in such a positive way.”
WESTLocal allows local people to access funding to design and run their own, new, not-for-profit bus service.
“We were intent that we needed to listen to local residents to hear where the real need for public transport existed,” said Keynsham town councillor Dave Biddleston.
“The outcome is a bus service we feel truly meets the needs of the community. It will enable residents who live in the furthest reaches of Keynsham to access a transport service that can connect them to the town centre and beyond, all for a very reasonable fare. We hope that Keynsham residents are as enthusiastic about the new service as we are.”
The K1 service is run by The Big Lemon, a sustainable transport social enterprise that runs a number of local bus services in and around Bristol and Bath.
It runs hourly between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday, and hourly between 9am and 7pm on Saturdays.
The route connects Keynsham South with the Queens Road area, the town centre, Keynsham train station and the Chocolate Quarter.
Fares are £1 for an adult ‘short hop’, £2 for a standard adult single and £3 for a return. Children and students travel half price.
Passengers going further afield can buy and use the BristolRider and AvonRider range of tickets and connect at Ashton Way and the High Street for services to Bristol and Bath.
Keynsham town clerk Dawn Drury said: “Our thanks go to Dan Norris and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority for this generous funding and to The Big Lemon for running the service.
“Without them, this service wouldn’t be possible. Our hope is that those in the outer reaches of Keynsham can feel even more connected to the town centre and beyond.”
WESTlocal is a fund from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Funding for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
The K1 service is one of eight new schemes across the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Another of the new services – the 532 run by Eurocoaches – links Keynsham, Bitton, Oldland Common, Warmley, Pucklechurch and Yate.
For more information about the K1, please contact Katherine Sears, deputy town clerk, deputytownclerk@keynsham-tc.gov.uk or on 0117 9868683.
Keynsham gets new cross-town bus service
