Contact:
  • Council Connect
  • Address:
    Public Transport - Floor 2, Riverside South, Temple Street, Keynsham, BS31 1LA
  • E-mail:
    councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
    01225 394041
  • Fax:
    01225 394335
  • Minicom:
    01225 477309
  • Page Updated:
    19/07/2008
  • Author:
    Matt Mobbs
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Tour Buses

This section provides travel information on tour buses operating in Bath & North East Somerset.

Tour Information - Information on specific tours can be found on the Visit Bath website.

Report your experiences - please contact our Public Transport team via the details given at the bottom of this page.

 

New Restrictions for Bath's Tour Buses

On 3rd July 2006 the Government’s Senior Traffic Commissioner announced that restrictions will be imposed on the operation of tour buses in Bath, as requested by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The announcment followed the Public Inquiry that was held at the Lansdown Grove Hotel in Bath on 15 and 16 May 2006.

Having received all the written evidence and heard verbal representations at the Public Inquiry, the Traffic Commissioner decided that from 31 July 2006, all tour bus services in Bath are subject to the following restrictions:

80 per cent of all tour buses must meet the EURO 3, low exhaust emission standard (rising to 100 per cent from 1 April  2008).

  1. Loud speakers will be banned - only hand sets or headphones can be used.
  2. No more than 10 tour buses will be in operation at only one time, excluding duplicate vehicles.*
  3. Only specified bus stops can be used by tour buses and waiting times at these stops will be restricted.
  4. Only two routes can be used by tour buses; one route around the historic city centre, the other route via North Road and Prior Park.

* Duplicate Vehicles - Traffic Regulation Condition 2 limits the maximum number of tour buses in operation at any one time to 10 buses, excluding duplicate vehicles.  In order to cater for passenger demand arising from block advance bookings for tours mainly from customers based in London arriving in Bath by train, a concession has been made to allow tour bus operators to operate duplicate vehicles.  However duplicate vehicles can only be used on occasions where the passenger demand cannot be met within the capacity of the 10 buses.

Councillor Comment

Cllr Sir Elgar Jenkins, Executive Member for Transportation & Highways, said “This is really good news for Bath.  This decision will be very well received by local residents and businesses and will reduce the environmental impact upon our historic buildings.  I wish to thank everyone who supported us in making the case to the Traffic Commissioner, in particular the many residents that have assisted us over the last few years. ”(back to top)

 

History of Tour Buses in Bath

Tour buses have had an environmental impact on the city of Bath for many years.  The issue peaked in 2004 when there were four tour bus operators in Bath operating a total of 25 tour buses on street at the same time, during the spring and summer.   

The average age of tour buses in 2004 was in excess of 25 years. These buses pre-dated modern exhaust emission standards and consequently the environmental impact in terms of air quality was severe.   

Since 2004 the situation has improved and there are now less tour buses and bus operators in the market. However there remains an underlining problem which will be dealt with by the restrictions imposed upon the operators by the Senior Traffic Commissioner. The restrictions will also provide a safeguard to prevent a return the problems experience in 2004. 

The Legislation -  Traffic Regulation Conditions were first introduced through the Transport Act 1985 and included powers for a Traffic Commissioner to impose restrictions on bus operators including restrictions concerning:

  • the routes of bus services,
  • the use of bus stops,
  • the number of buses or frequency of bus service,
  • reversing or turning manoeuvres.

As a result of lobbying by Bath & North East Somerset Council, the Government introduced two new categories of Traffic Regulation Conditions, in November 2004, through Statutory Instrument 2004 No.2682.  These new categories allow a Traffic Commissioner to impose restrictions on bus operators concerning:

  • the exhaust emission standards of vehicles used by bus operators,
  • the use of loud speakers on-board buses.

(back to top)

Traveline

Traveline provides timetables and journey planners for bus, coach and rail services in the South West. Traveline is also available on tel. 0871 200 22 33 between 7 am and 10 pm (calls cost 10p per minute from landlines).

Transport Direct

Transport Direct is designed to be the first complete transport journey planner for Great Britain. In addition to providing public transport information, you can compare car journeys with national and local public transport (excluding GB internal air).

See Also: Time Tables and Journey Planners