BUS passengers face an “extremely puzzling and frustrating situation” when trying to use a stop on Charlton Road in Keynsham.
Both the 43, run by First Bus, and the K1, operated by The Big Lemon, stop at the Lays Farm northbound stop.
But only the K1 appears to stop at the Lays Farm southbound stop to let passengers on or off.
The nearest alternative stops are Lockingwell Road to the north and Bilbie Green to the south, which are both about 450 metres from Lays Farm.
The northbound stop has a shelter and sign, whereas the southbound stop has neither and is located in a lay-by where residents park their vehicles.
A passenger who contacted the Voice said: “We were initially told that the number 43 would stop opposite the northbound bus stops, but the buses have stopped doing this, even though they stop at all the other northbound stops.
“On enquiring with First Bus they have informed me that this is a council problem but have not said why the bus doesn’t stop.
“I have been informed by drivers that they have a memo on their noticeboard to say not to stop there, but they have been unable to produce the document.”
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has told the passenger that it is Bath & North East Somerset Council, as the highway authority, which is responsible for highway infrastructure including bus stops.
“As service 43 is a commercially operated bus service, it is not us that sets the route, stopping pattern and timetable for the service,” WECA said.
The Voice approached First Bus and B&NES Council for an explanation, but neither had commented at the time of posting. The Big Lemon has confirmed that its K1 drivers stop at both the north and south Lays Farm stops.
Alex Beaumont, B&NES councillor for Keynsham North, said: “This has been an extremely puzzling and frustrating situation. I’ve had several residents come to me to raise their concerns.
“I’m still liaising with BANES and the combined authority to find out the reason this issue persists.”
K1 buses stop for passengers in the lay-by pictured below, opposite the Lays Farm northbound stop, pictured above
