First announces closure of Bridgwater depot

First’s depot at Bridgwater in Somerset is to close in September following the announcement of a raft of service changes by the operator’s Buses of Somerset division. The depot is scheduled to close from 3 September, and services previously operated from there will transfer to other nearby depots in a move which the company said it hopes will ensure services can be provided in a more sustainable way.

Managing Director Simon Goff said: “We are committed to serving our communities in Somerset and continue to work closely through the enhanced partnership with Somerset Council to deliver the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to provide bus services for our customers in
the county. To protect the future of Buses of Somerset, we are making some operational changes to our business and have taken the difficult decision to propose the closure of Bridgwater depot.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and our people are all being supported to find new roles in our business. We are operating in extremely challenging circumstances, with rising costs, and while passenger numbers are increasing due to current fare promotion schemes, they are still below pre-covid levels, which is affecting the viability of some routes.

“From September 3, there will be some changes to timetables for our routes in Somerset. These alterations reflect low passenger numbers on some journeys, as well as providing increased frequency for other routes where we are seeing passenger growth.”