'Waste of money' Westlink minibuses under threat as trial end looms View Image

The future of an on-demand bus service in the West of England is being considered, as frustrated residents say they warned authorities years ago that the system was unsuitable.

The Westlink bookable minibus service allows passengers in isolated and rural areas to 'dial-a-ride' for a minibus to take them to established bus routes or other 'easy to reach places' for a fixed £2 fee, via phone call or through an app.

The scheme , known as direct responsive transport (DRT), was rolled out by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) in 2023 , serving parts of Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. However, critics claim DRT is inefficient both financially and practically, with can

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