A COUNCIL's intervention to fund part of a discontinued bus service has been described as a “great victory” by a Somerset MP.

First Great Western will discontinue its 126 service (Wells to Weston-super-Mare) and its D2 service (Bath to Frome) over low passenger numbers.

Somerset County Council (SCC) has stepped in to preserve part of the 126 service between Wells and Axbridge under a new operator, Libra Travel. 

The 126 will also serve the Blue School in Wells during term time.

SCC will also fund evening weekday D2 journeys at 8.10pm and 10.10pm from Frome to Bath, and 9.10pm and 11.10pm services from Bath to Frome.

First West of England will continue to fund daytime, Saturday evening, and Sunday journeys on the D2.

James Heappey, the MP for Wells, launched a petition in August calling on SCC and North Somerset council to “step in and save the 126”.

The Wells Liberal Democrats also petitioned against the “scrapping” of the 126, arguing it would leave some residents “completely cut off.”

After SCC's announcement, Mr Heappey said: “This is a great victory for residents along the Cheddar Valley.

“I’m hugely grateful to everyone who signed my petition and utterly delighted that the route has been saved.”

When SCC announced its funding package, its lead member for transport and digital, Cllr Mike Rigby, said: “We’re delighted we’ve been able to step in and keep these lifeline services running.

“We know how important they are to local people and since the announcement that they were going to be withdrawn our team has been working really hard to find a solution to keep some of the routes running.

“We’ll continue to do all we can but we can’t stress enough that people need to support their services to ensure they are maintained.

“In March, Government funding runs out again and many of these services will be under threat – we’re working hard to ensure they continue but we need people to use them.”