Webberbus has ceased trading

Good evening everyone

While technically not in the Plymouth area, Webberbus in Somerset has ceased trading.

Here are some snippets from the news:

BBC News:

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."

Western Daily Press:
WebberBus has folded at short notice, leaving a huge hole in the county's public transport network.

The family-run bus company, based in Bridgwater, ceased to operate this morning "due to financial difficulties".

It is believed that the company was more than £1m in debt. Dozens of staff, including drivers, workshop and admin workers face an uncertain future as efforts are made by FirstBus and Buses of Somerset to fill the gaps.

Many drivers did not know the company had folded as they completed yesterday's journeys.

Somerset County Council (info also reproduced on Plymothian Transit)
Please be aware that we have been informed that one of the main bus companies in Somerset has ceased to operate today (Thursday 12 May), affecting a number of services.  We have responded immediately to this difficult situation and our staff are working hard to arrange for other operators to pick up these services where possible. We are confident that all services taking students to schools and colleges will be covered by replacement services from tomorrow morning. There should also be cover for the public routes where there are no other reasonable alternatives. On routes already covered by other operators, they will be doing their best to fill the gaps. 
Below is a list of the affected Webberbus services, and replacements where they have been arranged. We will keep this page updated as replacement services are added or changed. We apologise for the disruption that this has caused. 
Public Service Routes 
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 Please see 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 – Taunton Use 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 services are detailed on the Somerset web site.