all aboard the bus

30/07/2024

This is the letter sent to Nsc Regarding our bid

All Aboard The Bus Westlocal Bid

To Chris Heward (NSC)

Hi Chris, thank you for your e mail and the offer towards our bid for a bus route for Portishead, Clevedon and the Gordano Valley.

As discussed with you on Friday 26th July 2024, I did have to take the offer for consideration to our Members at their meeting on Saturday 27th July 2024 for them to consider and approve if we were to go ahead.

Unfortunately at that meeting the members decided and voted unanimously to decline the offer and so we will withdraw from this current bid process. The reasons for us declining were casically as follows.

The lack of clarity of the detail of the contract.

Delays in the process, for which NSC and WECA Westlocal were responsible, that meant lack of time for what we consider would be an acceptable for us to set up, introduce the route, take proper legal advise.

Being asked to accept the offer in a relatively short time period with a deadline of only five days (three working days) before the deadline (July 31st 2024) set by WECA/ Westlocal and NSC.

The lack of communication between NSC, Westlocal and ourselves. Again, as our records will show we have often tried to communicate with NSC Transport department, both officers and the Councilor responsible often with long periods without reply even if we have “chased” for a reply. This even includes replies that could state “out of office”

Whilst we understand that the General Election regulations meant no political discussions could take place in the build up to, and after, those elections had taken place a simple reply to say “I am sorry but due to General Election regulations we are not allowed to discuss with you at the moment and will get back to you as soon as possible afterwards” would have let us know that you were communicating as best you could.

It was noticeable to us that the only time you began to communicate with us, after us pressing you to find out if our bid was still in the running (date of entry of Bid by us was May 26th 2024 and although there were some queries from WECA to which we had replied, and similar queries by yourselves, which we also responded to immediately, were when Transpora Bristol, was liquidated/went bankrupt (Friday 12th July), obviously that caused extra problems for you and you sorted those quickly for the bus services that were already running, but then you contacted us on Monday 15th July to inform us of that and suggested we look for alternative suppliers, which we proceeded to do. But that was weeks after we had been requesting information as to whether our bid was still being considered without reply and just 16 days before the Deadline for bid acceptance.

During this period I had been keeping our group members and committee updated as regularly as we could, so they were fully aware of what we=as happening. But even we, postponed our July meetings because we said if we had received no news from you then we would have nothing to discuss.

So our Members yesterday voted that there had not been an acceptable level of communication From NSC and WECA/ Westlocal, during the bid process and they could not consider there would be sufficient communication and support for groups such as us, when the delivery would begin.

They were also concerned about the method of financing, and although you Chris had said that the invoicing system would be from our contracted supplier to us, then we add our expenses etc and pass it on to NSC on a monthly basis, that this would not be a fast enough process and this would cause problems between us and our suppliers and may even result in them withdrawing their services to us. This may also leave us in a legally vulnerable situation.

So with all these things considered it was decided we would not be taking up this offer at this time. We do agree though that we will continue as a Community Group to press for better transport in North Somerset, and especially our area as we believe it is an essential for the residents, visitors and businesses here. Both myself and Sandra Buebird will remain on NSC list of Bus Ambassadors (although a little more communication there would be good as well) for this purpose.

We also agreed that if similar future opportunities arise then we would be happy to consider them.

Yours Truly.

David Wherrett, Chairperson, All Aboard The Bus.

07/05/2024

Message from the Chair.
In our latest members meeting it was decided I should write an update to post on our page so that we can put in the public domain what our progress is towards getting what we believe is the right Public Bus Transport System for the people of the Gordano Valley.
Many of you will be aware of the WECA (West Of England Combined Authority), NSC (North Somerset Council) BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan). As part of that plan there is the opportunity being advertised for community Groups to become involved and bid for money to run their own communities bus service. Its called Westlocal.
All Aboard The Bus showed their interest, as required by NSC and WECA, by applying online directly to the website advertised by NSC within the BSIP online documentation. This was back on 18th March 2024. We have since been holding discussions with other groups, and companies that we may be able to work alongside or in partnership with to provide the transport our research tells us is wanted and needed by the public.
Quite simply this is a Regular, Reliable and Reasonably priced Bus service linking the whole valley, its communities to one another and the two towns and runs around the suburbs as well, so that everyone can reach the places they wish to go to and return from whether for work, education, health, shopping or socialisation.
However, we have not even received a reply from WECA or NSC to confirm receipt of our interest and to explain, or a follow up online form or anything to further the bid. This is even though when I finished the ‘interest’ form it said “thank you for your expression of interest. We will be in touch with you to discuss your proposed scheme” which is an automatic reply but nothing since.
So I sent e mails, on the groups behalf to North Somerset Councils Hannah Young and council officers Carl Nicholson and Chris Heward. These were on 4th and 22nd April 2024. Both of these were asking for support and more information about the bid. On the 5th April I had a phone call from Chris Heward, which was basically a catch up and an apology for not meeting with us earlier, which he promised to do a month before but had not done so. It was also to cover his tracks because I had pointed this out in the e mail to them all on the 4th.
In that conversation the only thing Chris advised me of that we hadn’t discussed before was that the BSIP bid completion date was ‘likely’ to be delayed until the end of May 2024, from the 24th April 2024. But nothing further and no actual date set. Even as I write we have not had this confirmed and we do not know the actual end date.
Many of the questions I have asked in those e mails are still not answered as well. Carl Nicholson sent an e mail in which he was pretty elusive about answering the questions in full and left gaping holes in the information we require. And again there was no further information on the completion date of, or the requirement of, the bid.
Much of the information we are requesting is of vital importance if we are to engage in a contract to run the services through BSIP.
This all lead me to suggest to the Group Members Meeting on 4th May 2024 that I would be unhappy to lead them into a contract where we did not have the full content of the requirement of the contract. I am also unhappy that NSC and WECA are rushing through this plan without supporting and consulting with the interested groups properly. Currently we do not have full information and it seems NSC is reluctant to give us more information, even though in the BSIP advertising by NSC they say “No prior knowledge of running a transport scheme is needed. Simply submit an initial expression of interest form and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss ideas and talk you through the next stages”. Further quoted it say NSC will support groups with “a dedicated team available to support any applications”
According to the documentation groups are supposed to be running buses from September 2024. But we are not getting support, advice, information or anything related to do this we are making contact and meeting with possible suppliers, but often wasting time as those suppliers may not be interested in partnering us or groups like us. This is wasting our time and theirs.
Unless this situation changes I would advocate to our group that we no longer pursue this bid. I believe I would not be doing the right thing for everyone if I allowed us to go into a contract that is not clear or will be unmanageable for us.
We will keep trying to get information and so on until the last minute. But if NSC and WECA do not improve their performance for us and supply the information and support we actually require I will suggest we withdrawal from the process.

Dave (The Chair)

29/04/2024

Does anyone work for a transport company or is involved with mini buses for hire?
We are looking for an organisation that can assist us with a project we are hoping to bring about.
Thank you in advance

08/04/2024

20/03/2024

All Aboard The Bus are a group of North Somerset Council Tax Payers, based on the Gordano Valley area of the county. We gathered together in 2022 and formed as a group to fulfil the below objects as described in the groups constitution.
Objects of the organisation.
The organisation has been formed to ensure public transport in the region of the Gordano Valley area of North Somerset, plus Portishead and Clevedon is sourced and maintained to the highest standard possible and meets the needs and requirements of residents and visitors to the areas quoted above.

To achieve this we will work with partners such as North Somerset Council, Town and Parish Councils, Transport providers and contractors. We will also work with potential funders and providers whether they be private, public, or voluntary sector as deemed necessary to achieve our goals.

We will do this in such a way that all people will be included, irrespective of race colour, creed, gender, age, social and financial status, ability or disability.