Proof of Evidence of Mr James Willcock

Document Reference Number OA/13
Proof of Evidence of Mr James Willcock
11.5 A number of existing bus services are to be diverted onto the AVTM busway. The
incumbent operator First Group have made an initial commitment to divert services
X1, 354 and 361 which currently operate between Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea and
Clevedon to Bristol Marlborough Street Bus Station. These bus services currently
operate via Hotwells Road and as a result of their diversion will reduce the overall
frequency of bus services on Hotwell Road. However, excluding the P&R services to
Portway, there would still be 8 buses per hour in the peak along Hotwell Road, as
well as bus service 505 and 506 operating along part of Anchor/Hotwell Road to
Southmead Hospital, which are unaffected. Furthermore, the number of
passengers using the X1, 354 and 361 services to travel within the Hotwell Road
corridor is small – most passengers travel through the corridor between North
Somerset and central Bristol. Further details about the operational impact of the
operational effect of the AVTM scheme on the existing bus network have been set
out earlier in this Proof of Evidence. The extent of disruption to service X1, 354 and
361 and indeed all the existing bus services on corridors feeding into the AVTM
scheme during the construction, will be limited mainly to potential traffic delays
caused by the construction works to extend bus lanes on the city centre loop
section of the route. The existing lane bus lanes will at times need to be closed
while construction works take place, however this will be mitigated through a
staged approach to the city centre loop construction programme. It is not expected
that the extent of the works will disrupt bus services to the extent that journey
times will increase and new timetables will need to be introduced.
11.6 Coach parking is addressed in Bob Fowler’s proof of evidence (OA/3).
Page 31