Regional Mayor to discuss on-going challenges facing bus passengers with Managing Director of First Bus

Tim Bowles, Regional Mayor of the West of England, will discuss cancelled services and unacceptable delays facing bus commuters across the region in a meeting with the Managing Director of First Bus, James Freeman.

The meeting will take place in the next two weeks and follows correspondence from constituents across the West of England highlighting severe delays, cancellations and overcrowded services.

The shortage of drivers and the on-going recruitment issues faced by First will be raised by the Mayor, urging the company to review recruitment practices to ensure vacancies are filled quickly and the training of new drivers is completed promptly to avoid further disruption.

The on-going issues coupled with current levels of congestion provide challenges to the existing bus services and highlights the need to continue to work together as a region on the West of England bus strategy.

Regional Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “Thousands of people across the West of England rely on First Bus to get around the region. The recent level of disruption is unacceptable and I will raise my concerns directly with First. Reliable transport is essential to keep the region growing and I will press First to address these challenges as quickly as possible.”