From Our Own Correspondent [2]

Somerset Site Sub-Standard

Recently fbb aroused indignation at Buses of Somerset (BoS) for suggesting that the move for the independent BoS web site into First-corporate land was the beginning of the end for this green giant of Sonmerset. fbb commented that there was no "news" on the site except old news.

Additionally there was little to help customers understand what had happened to former Webberbus routes.

A correspondent concurs - somewhat belatedly. Perhaps he is not a daily reader of the blog. 

The site remains very poor compared with its predecessor. But it is just a pity that the high quality of information available on the original BoS pages should be sacrificed under some misplaced HQ policy. Sounds very much like the old pre-Fearnley First Bus.

And not a word of apology ...

... and you won't!

Chumminess is no excuse for poor service.

Devon Delivers, Dorset Doesn't.

It is good to see a better attitude to Public Transport from fbb's adopted county. You just have to feel sorry for Dorset folk. The press item from which the above was extracted by our correspondent is interesting.

The bus is right for a Dorset "community" vehicle. But fbb wonders where along the route of the 688 ...

... you might pass the harbour?

The article also mentions route 20:-

The revisions to fbb's local Stagecoach service are minor, Timings do change a bit here and there and the service runs direct between Taunton and Wellington rather than wiggling via West Buckland.

The timetable is on Traveline but with an attempt to disguide the fact that it is a through service.

fbb has corrected this piece of misdirection.

All will be on the GoSeaton app (downloadable  FREE  for Android devices from Google Play Store) from Monday next.

No sign of anything on Stagecoach's web site. But then we don't expect that from super corporate land.

Exeter's New Bus Station

Exeter's current bus station is looking its age; like fbb it is old and tired and in need of refurbishment. But the civic dignitaries have come up with a cunning plan,.

(1) Sell off the site for leisure and retail development

(2) Get the developers to build you a bus station free,

The present facility has already been fettled a little to squeeze in wider and longer buses but its 14 stands are always busy and buses often have to use nearby stands because their's is full. Exeter's bus station isn't big enough.

On-line information is less than helpful;.

Blocks A (pink), B (pale orange), C (green) and E (blue - next to the new leisure centre) are, presumably, retail opportunities. The darker block is labelled C and bus station. fbb has attempted to match old with new with only limited success but would estimate that the old station is about as long as "Block "B".

Which would make the new bus station smaller than the old, not larger as is needed.

In this version, it looks as if a triangular overall roof had been glued on to block "B" with parking for vehicles on "layover" to the right. It is definitely not big enough, as well as being a hearty few yards further from the main shopping area.

Never mind, eh? The leisure centre looks pretty and there will be lots more shops to stand empty.

Good scheme?

As ever, time will tell.

There was hardly unbridled enthusiasm for the project back in January!

The plans for the bus station go on public view next week ; if they materialise on-line, fbb will take another look. Councillors and developers have reacted to tonight's lively meeting in which planning permission was granted to Princesshay Leisure, a major Exeter city centre development on the site of the bus station.

The Crown Estate and TIAA Henderson Real Estate project will comprise of restaurants, shops, a cinema, a council run-leisure complex and a bus terminal. The landscape-changing project is set for completion in mid-2019, and will create around 750 jobs for the city.

The decision to grant planning permission arrived despite 250 letters of objection from the public and criticism from many councillors present.

It's changed shape yet again!

 Next tram blog : Friday 10th June