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RIP Webberbus

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-36279088

A family-run bus company in Somerset which has been running for more than 50 years is to stop trading.
Somerset County Council said it had been told WebberBus would cease to operate from Friday morning "due to financial difficulties".
The authority said it would try to ensure "dozens of important bus routes" served by the company would be covered.
WebberBus managing director Tim Gardner said a statement would be issued later on Friday...
Bridgwater-based WebberBus to cease trading after more than 50 years
 
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THarris123

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RIP indeed

It is sad to see them go, but i'm pleased that it shows to management if you get too big for your boots, bad things will happen.
 

overthewater

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So Buses of Somerset has won? Also I take it there will be taking over a number of other routes?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
##############

Some ITV (Westcountry/TSW news in old money) news reports:
http://www.itv.com/news/west/2016-05-12/webberbus-to-stop-operating-from-tomorrow/

Public service affected:
10 Minehead – Porlock First are providing a replacement service
12/15 Wellington – Taunton – Bridgwater Use First services 21/21A/22/22A, extra capacity will be provided where necessary
16/24 Minehead – Bridgwater Ssee First service 15 for Minehead/Carhampton/Williton/Watchet/Nether Stowey to Bridgwater College First service 14 and X14 operates between Bridgwater and Cannington
18 Minehead – TauntonUse First service 28, extra capacity will be provided where necessary
19 Bridgwater – Street First will replace journeys previously operated by WebberBus
26 Wells – Weston-super-Mare Use First service 126, additional capacity will be provided for Easton to Wells Blue School journeys
27 Creech – Taunton Use First service 29
34 Yeovil – Bridgwater Hatch Green service 16 is available
37 / 375 Bridgwater – Street – Wells First will reinstate service 37/375 and provide additional capacity where necessary
38 Taunton – Street – Wells Use First service 55
62/66 Weston/Axbridge – Bridgwater College Crosville Motor Services will provide these services
67 Wells – Burnham-on-Sea First will provide replacement service
75 Weston – Burnham – Bridgwater Use First routes 20/21/21A, additional capacity provided where necessary
76 Weston – Burnham Use First service 20
101 Minehead Town Service First will provide this service
623 Wellington – Bridgwater College First will provide replacement service
Bridgwater Town Services First will provide replacement services
Taunton Town Services Use existing First Taunton Town services
School routes affected:
Route number C559D operating for Haygrove Bakers Dolphin will replacement
Route number C510A operating for Robert Blake Science College First will replacement
Route number C511J operating for Robert Blake Science College Bakers Dolphin replacement
Route number C567D operating for Chilton Trinity Coombs replacement
Route number C524A operating for Chilton Trinity Crosville replacement
Route number C504A operating for Bridgwater College Academy and Kingsmoor First replacement
Route number C015B operating for Catcott Primary Fairview replacement
Route number C535G operaitng for Haygrove Bakers Dolphin replacement
Route number WB26 operating for The Blue School First replacement
Route number WB16 (pm only) operating for Danesfield A number of solutions have been put in place for individual pupils – parents are being informed. The morning services are all unaffected.

http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry...-people-lose-jobs-after-coach-company-closes/
 

Y961 XBU

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Looking at that list First are going to need some Buses from elsewhere to operate the above services
 

Zoidberg

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-36279088

Bridgwater-based WebberBus to cease trading after more than 50 years

For the benefit of those with difficulties accessing links ...

A family-run bus company in Somerset which has been running for more than 50 years is to stop trading.

Somerset County Council said it had been told WebberBus would cease to operate from Friday morning "due to financial difficulties".

The authority said it would try to ensure "dozens of important bus routes" served by the company would be covered.

WebberBus managing director Tim Gardner said a statement would be issued later on Friday.
Affected services include those serving six schools, four colleges and more than a dozen public routes.

Councillor David Fothergill, who is responsible for highways, said: "WebberBus is by some distance the second largest operator in the county and organising replacement services at very short notice is a significant task."
 

quarella

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I know it would not be the first thing on their minds at this difficult time but it is disappointing that the company's website has not been updated.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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WB 16 is Minehead to Nether Stowey.
Hatch Green 16 is Bridgwater to Langport.

I was wondering if they had First doing WB16 but had instead listed WB19; apparently they are doing the WB19 (college run)! Who's covering the WB16 I wonder?

Hatch Green 16 is still running - think that may have been WB's first proper foray into local bus operation 10 years ago
 

AB93

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http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/Colla...e-allegation/story-29342694-detail/story.html

Collapse of Webberbus being investigated by police after 'allegation of financial irregularity'

A CRIMINAL investigation has been launched by Somerset police over 'financial irregularities' involving the collapse of Somerset's second biggest bus operator.

The probe centres on Webberbus, which collapsed at short notice in May this year, citing 'financial difficulties'. The company, which had been operating for more than 50 years, was believed to have been almost £1.5m in debt.

A police spokesman said it was "very early days" in the investigation and no arrests had been made.

"An allegation of financial irregularity involving a transport company has been reported to our economic crime team, who are looking into the matter," he confirmed.

The irregularities are believed to centre on the amount of money the company was claiming for concessionary fare passenger numbers, although council chiefs are remaining tight-lipped about the focus of the investigation.

Councillor David Fothergill, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "We cannot give any detail, but I can say that following Webberbus ceasing to operate we have referred a case to the Police. I can also confirm that no member of county council staff has been investigated or implicated in this case.

"We cannot comment any further but will help with the investigation as required."

After Webberbus collapsed, 120 staff including drivers, workshop and admin workers lost their jobs, and other bus companies were drafted in to help plug the gaps in the transport network.

The company held contracts to run transport for six schools, four colleges and more than a dozen public routes including services in Bridgwater, Street, Glastonbury, Wells, Cheddar, Minehead and Taunton. It also operated a coach hire business.

Business recovery firm Begbies Traynor has been appointed to manage the affairs.

Partner Neil Vinnicombe: "We are working with the directors to maximise the recovery for creditors and assist employees through the redundancy process."

First has taken up all the routes where it was not providing buses, many of which it had previously abandoned due to low patronage, and has been honouring all Webberbus tickets until their expiry dates.

Calls and emails to Webberbus were not returned.
 

KendalKing

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The assets of WebberBus, are to be sold by auction on Thursday 9th June at the WebberBus depot TA6 4FF.

Included in the sale are Buses, Coaches and garage equipment & tools.

Sales catalogue, downloadable from eddisons.com
 

TheGrandWazoo

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The assets of WebberBus, are to be sold by auction on Thursday 9th June at the WebberBus depot TA6 4FF.

Included in the sale are Buses, Coaches and garage equipment & tools.

Sales catalogue, downloadable from eddisons.com

Of the entire bus fleet, only 5 for sale. The rest I guess were either directly leased or were had been sold and leased back?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Talking to a former WB driver, he'd mentioned that his wife had told him about the investigation but, in fairness, he said that it came as a surprise to him.
 

richw

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On the pdf (see link) there were only 5 (Two Versas, Two Meridians and a Merc Beaver mini); the remainder are coaches.

Still the case. The streetlites were from Mistral. Not sure about the rest.

Assuming the police investigation is connected to the same reason that the business recovery person working for the administrator said in the early days there was no clear reason the company failed.
 

AB93

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Assuming the police investigation is connected to the same reason that the business recovery person working for the administrator said in the early days there was no clear reason the company failed.

The police investigation is connected to concessionary fare claims - they've been referred to the police by Somerset County Council.

"The irregularities are believed to centre on the amount of money the company was claiming for concessionary fare passenger numbers, although council chiefs are remaining tight-lipped about the focus of the investigation.

Councillor David Fothergill, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "We cannot give any detail, but I can say that following Webberbus ceasing to operate we have referred a case to the Police. I can also confirm that no member of county council staff has been investigated or implicated in this case.

"We cannot comment any further but will help with the investigation as required.""
 

83G/84D

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A sad state of affairs and why I do not know the details regarding Webberbus and it's demise it is desperately sad for the staff who have not found work with First or elsewhere.

Like the collapse of Western Greyhound the the end of operation of a bus company hits employees and the local community around it, hard.
 

johnnychips

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Route 67 from Burnham to Wells, which has been subsidised by Somerset CC and operated by Bakers Dolphin will cease on December 31st after no commercial operator has been found.
 

swifty

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2 ex Webberbus Solos have appeared at Sydney Airport, one is YJ10 EYW and the other is either MX55 BYB or MX05 OTK.
 
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