Avonmouth warehouse to let has increased transport links from city centre

Avonmouth warehouse to let has increased transport links from city centre. A new and improved bus service is being launched from Sunday to serve residents and businesses in the Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston areas of Bristol. The No 41 bus which runs from Broadmead is being extended beyond its current terminus in Avonmouth Village to provide a new link to and from Henbury or Cribbs Causeway from Sunday. The extended route means that new links are being created between Avonmouth and the city centre, Clifton, Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston and Henbury. It also means up to three more buses an hour between Henbury and Lawrence Weston, along with a timetable designed to suit common shift patterns. Buses in both directions will arrive in Avonmouth before 6am and will run until after 10pm at night.

The changes have been particularly welcomed by residents and members of the Avonmouth jobs club, who realise that the additional links will open up job opportunities for them.

Andy Hollick, Avonmouth Work Club Facilitator, said: “No longer will local job applicants need to have a driving licence and own transport to get a job that doesn’t involve driving. Everyone at the work club is really excited about the news. Avonmouth employers had often required applicants to have their own transport, unaffordable for many jobseekers especially the insurance costs for younger drivers. Well done to all concerned in making it happen.”

Bristol Mayor George Ferguson said: “Employers in Avonmouth and residents in Lawrence Weston have requested better public transport to get to work. This is something that has been raised through local neighbourhood partnership meetings so these improvements to the existing service mark a successful outcome for everyone. Our bus services should support efforts to keep everyone in Bristol connected and it is successful partnership work like this which is making a significant impact to local people and communities. I am sure the extended service will make a positive difference to local businesses and residents by giving them a more effective, affordable and efficient bus service.”

Simon Ford, Commercial Manager for First West of England, says: “We have been working closely with the local community and the council to consider how improvements could be made to Service 41 which would benefit local people. We are particularly pleased that through effective partnership working we have found a way to significantly improve things for people in and around Avonmouth who want to be able travel more readily throughout the city. From 2 November buses towards Henbury will operate every 20 minutes, Monday to Saturday daytimes, while buses to Cribbs Causeway will run hourly during the evenings and all day on Sundays and Public Holidays. This is a notable improvement on the current provision.”

The extension to the otherwise commercially operated Service 41 is being kick started with funding from Bristol City Council. This has come from several areas including the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and a section 106 agreement.

Councillor Mark Bradshaw, Assistant Mayor for Transport, said: “Bus services need to provide essential access for both businesses and residents which is why this extension is so crucial to opening up more opportunities for this part of the city. I’d like to thank the local people and councilors who highlighted the need and to First for working with us to make this happen. Strengthening our intercity links through public transport is an important priority for us and this is another successful step towards our goal of offering more sustainable and affordable alternatives to reduce car use and provide for those without access to a car.”

Source: Bristol Post