Disabled volunteers at a farm in Bristol have struggled to get to their placements since local bus services were axed. Stapleton village - where the farm is located - is just one of several parts of Bristol and the west of England now left without a bus service.
It comes as Bristol Live is campaigning for a better bus service for the people of the city.
Jenny Tovey is one of several volunteers who is supported by Elm Tree Farm in Stapleton who now relies on lifts to attend her placement. The farm, just three miles from Bristol city centre, run by the Brandon Trust supports adults with learning disabilities and autism to live more independent lives.
Bristol bus cuts: Residents feel 'stuck' on estate after last service is cut
Staff say that the work they have done to promote the independence of the volunteers they support has been undermined by the bus cuts. On top of the two services (number 5 and Y4) that used to stop outside the farm being withdrawn, Accessible Transport Service 4 U was scrapped earlier this year after an exponential rise in its insurance premium.
Although Jenny, who lives in Downend is still able to attend her placement, it means having to rely on being picked up from the nearest bus stop. She told Bristol Live the deterioration on local bus services have impacted on other areas of her life. She had had to give up her previous volunteer role with the British Heart Foundation because the journey into Bristol city centre had become impossible.
Jenny said: “I stopped volunteering in town. I’m nervous to do anything because [my condition means] I must have a rest. I was getting home too late and it was getting ridiculous.”
Another volunteer who had been taking the Y4 from Yate to Stapleton for six years has faced her journey time increasing by an hour now that getting to Stapleton requires two bus journeys. What would be a two-hour commute takes around 90 minutes on a good day because the volunteer, Nikki gets a lift from the bus stop from Louisa James, the farm's enterprise manager.
Ms James said that the bus cuts mean that volunteers often get to the farm later and having to constantly drive to the bus stop has taken chunks out of her working day. She said: “It has been a pain and it’s been disruptive. We have four individuals who we have to pick up who could previously travel independently.
“When we’re trying to attract new people to the farm it becomes more of an issue. We have had people cancel their placements because of transport issues.
“People try to find alternative transport but there’s hardly any companies that do that now. Families are juggling their schedule to try and get them to the farm or trying to get funding for taxis.
“I’ve got one lady who was relying on the bus to get to the farm and she’s said how much the farm has improved her mental health and given a structure to her week. She lives alone in an assisted living situation and some days she doesn’t see anyone.
“The thought of her not being able to get to the farm is devastating. When we talk about the buses, she doesn’t have anything positive to say about it.
“We have other volunteers who now need two buses and then have to get picked up. With two different buses, that are at times delayed or they don’t turn up, is very stressful and by the time they get to the farm they’re in such a state.”
Sarah Howard, who is the project leader at the Brandon Trust for disability hate crime, is now having to collect employees from Bristol bus station who were previously attending the farm independently. One of the employees, who has disabilities and lives in Yatton, already has to walk 20 minutes to get the bus into Bristol and without the lift would not be able to make it into training sessions on time, while another would just not physically be able to manage the walk from the bus stop to the farm.
Ms Howard said: “They work with me and they are all really good at their job. My job is not to support them, I put on their job application to be able to travel independently.
“It’s horrifying, it’s taken away so many people’s independence. Often they only come up here for an hour-long workshop.”
'It's leaving people isolated'.
David Redgewell, a transport campaigner and chair of the Bristol Disability Equality Forum based in St Pauls, said that it was considering relocating its office after the withdrawal of the local bus service. The new number 25 service that was introduced last month means people are still able to access the office but for elderly and disabled people in many other parts of Bristol, the picture is bleaker.
With bus services being cut from Southmead Hospital, getting to appointments has become challenging. Despite the hospital being a hub for the region, there is no reliable service from Bristol Parkway and the new WESTlink service does not cater to the hospital or run on Sundays.
The Y6, which takes passengers from Bristol Parkway to Southmead Hospital, runs every two hours at weekends and is at its best, an hourly service. The last bus leaves Southmead at 8.40pm and 6.40pm on Sunday.
Mr Redgewell said: “Oldbury Court, Ashton Vale, parts of Filwood, Stapleton and parts of Brislington are now left with no public transport at all. The WESTlink doesn’t run in Oldbury Court, Stapleton, Broom Hill or Ashton Vale, so those areas are cut off.
“If you're in Thornbury, the WESTlink won't take you beyond Horfield so you have to walk to Bristol Parkway to get a bus to Southmead Hospital. If you’re old and disabled it’s very difficult.
“It’s leaving people isolated. Older people who come here as tourists get stuck, the only way for them to get to Oldbury Court now is by taxi.
“It affects disabled people’s lives in every shape and form - it’s very difficult. You can get reasonable adjustments for work but if there is no bus service they are stuck.”
First Bus and WECA's response
Commercial Director for First Bus West of England Rob Pymm said: “Services 5 and 47 struggled with low demand in the Stapleton area, particularly after the pandemic. We are focusing resources where our data shows there is demand and potential for growth, whilst ensuring we are reacting in those areas of the network where there is a clear need for additional capacity.
“These services were simply not sustainable without financial support from the Combined Authority, and with no support being made available, we were left with no choice but to make the difficult decision to withdraw the route due to a combination of low patronage and rising costs.”
West of England Metro mayor Dan Norris said: “I know residents in Bristol and across the West are disappointed with these cuts - due to a combination of commercial decisions by bus companies and a reduction in funding by councils for local authority-supported buses. Of the pot of money I control, I’m pleased to have done things like bring forward a £7 million package of bus improvements which means communities in many areas are enjoying much more regular buses.
“Taking Southmead Hospital, this package means Kingswood and Emersons Green residents can travel to the hospital via more frequent 42 and 43 buses as well as 48 and 49 services respectively. But I’m hopeful we can go even further as we train up more bus drivers and so continue to grip this national problem of driver shortages affecting us here in the West of England."
The 42, 43, 48 and 49 do not go to Southmead Hospital. The 17, 24, 76, Y6, 505 and 25 are the only buses which currently stop directly outside the hospital.
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