Crossville Motor Services closes Weston operations

Crosville Motor Services is to end its local bus services and school transport services in the Weston-super-Mare area at the end of April. The remaining parts of the parent company JJP Holdings South West Ltd, Southern National and the Hinckley Point C power station joint-venture (Somerset Transport Solutions), are not affected.

North Somerset Council has been given statutory two months’ notice of the decision by the company, which was set up in 2011 in the town. Crosville Motor Services, which has a fleet of 30 modern and vintage vehicles, operates services 100 and 106 in Weston. It will also be ending its shopper services at Asda in Taunton and Tesco in Burnham-on-Sea, as will its private hire coaches.

Its seafront commercial service 100, is rumoured to be taken over by First, but Crosville will not be bidding for any replacement tenders.

All that will remain is the heritage bus operation which currently uses four buses, but has another six or so to call on, and the two land-train operations on the seafront.

MD, John Wye, said: “We have taken the decision with a great deal of regret and it is simply because the market is too challenging, with passenger numbers falling and competition fierce. The council will no doubt seek replacement suppliers. We have attempted to adapt and change and we have stripped loss making areas of the business to try to keep going, but we now feel there is no other option but to close this side of the business in an organised way.”

The final day of Crosville operations in Weston-super-Mare will be April 21, which the company plans to operate as a “vintage day” with its fleet of vintage buses and coaches used on routes as a special event. All revenues will be donated to charity.