WebberBus
{{Short description|British bus company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name =
|logo = WebberBus logo.png
|logo_size =
|image = Bridgwater Bristol Road - Webberbus MX05OTK.jpg
|image_size =
|image_caption = Optare Solo M850SL in Bridgwater
in April 2014
|parent =
|company_slogan =
|founded = 1999
|ceased = 12 May 2016
|headquarters = Bridgwater
|locale =
|service_area = Somerset
|service_type = Bus and coach services
|hubs =
|stations =
|lounge =
|fleet =
|fuel_type =
|operator =
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160513121122/http://webberbus.com/ www.webberbus.com]}}
WebberBus[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05130334 Companies House extract company no 5130334] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043025/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05130334 |date=4 March 2016 }} Webberbus Limited was a privately owned company that operated bus services around Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Minehead, Taunton, Street, Glastonbury, and Wells in Somerset and also around Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset, England.
It operated regular inter-urban services radiating from Taunton on a commercial basis, as well as a number of rural services and local town routes under contract to Somerset County Council and North Somerset Council. The company also operated dedicated yellow school buses on contracted work, and also a fleet of coaches for private hire.
History
File:Taunton Silk Mills Road - Webberbus YJ62FBL.jpg in Taunton in April 2014]]
File:Bishops Lydeard station - Webberbus WJ51FDK.jpg bodied DAF at Bishops Lydeard railway station in April 2014]]
Over 50 years ago the hauliers F Webber & Son expanded their business to include passenger transport with a number of contracts to carry children from Exmoor to school. In 1999 WebberBus was formed, at the time that a second depot was opened in Bridgwater.[http://www.webberbus.com/index.php/our-services/ A heritage in serving communities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005202431/http://www.webberbus.com/index.php/our-services/ |date=5 October 2013 }} Webberbus
In 2005 WebberBus won two contracts from Somerset County Council to operate route 16 from Bridgwater to Langport,{{cite web | title = Bus Registration Search | publisher = VOSA | url = http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=175426&txtLicenceNo=PH1035360&cboRegNoFilter=PH1035360/2 | access-date = 25 October 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723125621/http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=175426&txtLicenceNo=PH1035360&cboRegNoFilter=PH1035360%2F2 | archive-date = 23 July 2011 | url-status = live }} and routes 100/101 the Minehead Town Service.{{cite web | title = Bus Registration Search | publisher = VOSA | url = http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=175426&txtLicenceNo=PH1035360&cboRegNoFilter=PH1035360/1 | access-date = 25 October 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723125635/http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=175426&txtLicenceNo=PH1035360&cboRegNoFilter=PH1035360%2F1 | archive-date = 23 July 2011 | url-status = live }}
Their first commercial route commenced in January 2007, route 105 from Minehead to Watchet and Williton.{{cite web | title = Bus Registration Search | publisher = VOSA | url = http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=175426&txtLicenceNo=PH1035360&cboRegNoFilter=PH1035360/9 | access-date = 25 October 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723125641/http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=175426&txtLicenceNo=PH1035360&cboRegNoFilter=PH1035360%2F9 | archive-date = 23 July 2011 | url-status = live }}
A new route between Bridgwater and Taunton was launched in February 2008 with two Optare Versas.[http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=3543&categoryid=4 Versas launch new Somerset service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020220557/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=3543&categoryid=4 |date=20 October 2013 }} Bus & Coach Professional 29 February 2008 The route proved so successful that a third vehicle was acquired in January 2009 to operate an extension to Burnham-on-Sea.
In 2009 WebberBus gained two more contracted routes from First Somerset & Avon on the basis of operating better quality vehicles. The company had invested £1.5 million into its bus fleet in the preceding four years.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8242000/8242110.stm New business for local bus firms] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016053139/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8242000/8242110.stm |date=16 October 2013 }} BBC News 7 September 2009
At the start of 2010, WebberBus won the contracts to operate four routes in Weston-super-Mare from North Somerset Council.{{cite web | url=http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Transport/News/news-20100204-restoredroutesandnewoperators.htm | title=Restored routes and new operators | access-date=25 October 2010 | publisher=North Somerset Council | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308110856/http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Transport/News/news-20100204-restoredroutesandnewoperators.htm | archive-date=8 March 2012 | url-status=live }} In February 2013 North Somerset Council announced that the contracts for these routes would be terminated, due to poor service provision.[http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/bus_company_axed_over_poor_service_1_1941896 Bus company axed over 'poor service'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529143335/http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/bus_company_axed_over_poor_service_1_1941896 |date=29 May 2013 }} Western Mercury 21 February 2013
In March 2010, WebberBus won the contract to operate the Taunton Flyer Park and Ride service between two car parks at Silk Mills and Taunton Gateway. Eight new Optare Versas were ordered to operate the routes. The seven-year contract began in November 2010.[http://www.somerset.gov.uk/irj/public/news/directory/articles?rid=/wpccontent/Sites/SCC/Web%20Pages/News/Articles/Big%20benefits%20from%20your%20Taunton%20Flyer News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173040/http://www.somerset.gov.uk/irj/public/news/directory/articles?rid=%2Fwpccontent%2FSites%2FSCC%2FWeb%20Pages%2FNews%2FArticles%2FBig%20benefits%20from%20your%20Taunton%20Flyer |date=14 October 2013 }} Somerset County Council[http://www.automotivepr.com/news_detail.php?Webberbus-order-eight-Versas-for-new-P-R-contract-403 Webberbus order eight Versas for new P&R contract] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707191435/http://www.automotivepr.com/news_detail.php?Webberbus-order-eight-Versas-for-new-P-R-contract-403 |date=7 July 2011 }} automotivepr.com 19 March 2010
However, on 17 April 2014, Somerset County Council announced the contract for the Taunton Park & Ride services had been terminated due to complaints of late and missing buses, and that The Buses of Somerset would operate the Park & Ride services in the interim.{{cite web |url=http://somersetnewsroom.com/2014/04/17/new-operator-for-taunton-park-ride/ |title=New operator for Taunton Park & Ride |publisher=Somersetnewsroom.com |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517151715/http://somersetnewsroom.com/2014/04/17/new-operator-for-taunton-park-ride/ |archive-date=17 May 2014 |url-status=live }}
On 12 May 2016, WebberBus ceased operations after encountering financial difficulties. Somerset County Council stepped in to arrange replacement operators to cover as much work as possible from the following day.{{cite web | url=http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/14489750.BREAKING__One_of_Somerset_s_main_bus_companies_folds/ | title=Somerset County Council steps in as WebberBus ceases operations | access-date=12 May 2016 | publisher=this is the west country.co.uk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513113000/http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/14489750.BREAKING__One_of_Somerset_s_main_bus_companies_folds/ | archive-date=13 May 2016 | url-status=live }}[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-36279088 Bridgewater-based WebberBus to cease trading after more than 50 years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715230517/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-36279088 |date=15 July 2018 }} BBC News 13 May 2016
At the end of May 2016 Somerset County Council made an allegation of financial irregularity to the Avon & Somerset Constabulary, and the Economic Crime Team began an investigation.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-36434675 |title=Collapsed bus firm Webberbus investigated by police |access-date=2 June 2016 |publisher=BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606210652/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-36434675 |archive-date=6 June 2016 |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Webberbus}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160513121122/http://webberbus.com/ Company website]
{{Defunct British Bus Companies}}
Category:Companies based in Bridgwater
Category:1999 establishments in England