Great Western Coffee Shop

The Jurassic Mule open top service operated by Mendip Mule Motorbus starts for the 2017 season this saturday.

All day fares:
Adults £7.95
Seniors £6.95
Children £5.95
Family (2+2) £19.95
Extra family child £3.95

These fares are a hop on hop off ticket, and valid for unlimited travel all day.

Due to vehicle unavailability the service will operate the yellow timetable until further notice. keep an eye on facebook page for updates.
The route serves 27 CAMRA pub guide featured pubs, what better reason than to give it a go ;)

https://www.facebook.com/mendipmulemotorbus/

Add to that the First "Slowcoaster" from Weymouth via Portland Sailing Academy to Abbotsbury and Bridport; Service 510 runs three times a day.

https://www.firstgroup.com/wessex-dorset-south-somerset/more/jurassic-coaster/slowcoaster

We, at the mendip Mule motorbus are running a gala tour weekend based out of Seaton on the weekend of 2/3 September. We will have at least 4 open top VRs and our open top RE in service over each day of the weekend. I've attached a suggested itinerary we've created that will allow riding each of the 5 vehicles over each day. In addition to the fares shown on the attached poster 2 day tickets will be available at 1.5 times the single day fare.

Sorry can't read images where does it run two and from? Does it go via Axminister?

Click on the image and it will expand for you.

From Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mendipmulemotorbus/photos/a.578873628883237.1073741828.566563233447610/1219112694859324/?type=3&theater) in a public post by Derek Gawn on 4th September


Considerable follow up on that thread and lots of sharing.

DVSA - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

AVMT - Axe Valley Mini Travel

Posted by me not derek. I was personally subject to a verbal tirade on Sunday by a resident of the flats overlooking the bus park for...wait for it... parking a bus in the bus park.
We have been subject to 10s of messages from Facebook profiles set up to message us, which then get deleted all represented themselves  as employees of AVMT

I have read through the Facebook thread ... really nasty.   Rather than summarise here and add my own bias within that summary, I'll let others read that to get the flavour - it's a public post.

Both on this forum and in real life, I've come across vexatious people, and know the crippling time and emotional effect it can have.  The natural reaction is to say "don't let the bu***ers win" when they're in a tiny minority and employing less than legal techniques, but that can be easier said than done.  From the public thread on Facebook - "why give in" - reply "Because i am nearly 65 - have had 47 years in the industry - have lost £22,000 over the 3 years - only had one proper day off since May - not drawn one single penny in wages - and now hate every single second".  When it gets to that point, fair enough - I can understand.  But what a disappointment for the myriads of happy passengers, and what a reduction for the local economy of the area having lost the attraction. And what an awful lesson to the people who have broken the service - that stepping beyond legal protest works; who will they do it to next?

Derek has loved it the previous years. This year because of all the problems from a few members of public he's lost that enjoyment.

Press Release 7/9/17

Open Top Bus Service Withdrawn
Heritage open top bus service to cease 10th September 2017

The open top bus tour service operating between Beer, Colyton, Seaton, Lyme Regis and Charmouth is to be withdrawn from 10th September due to hostility from a small minority of local residents towards their staff. 

The service which has carried in excess of 20000 passengers this year, bringing a much needed boost to the local economy will cease operating after the end of service on Sunday 10th September. Owner Derek Gawn has taken the decision after he and his staff have been subject to tirades from a few local residents in the Seaton and Colyton area. All of the company’s part time workforce of 25 will be laid off.

Sadly a couple of residents of the flats overlooking The Underfleet bus and coach park in Seaton have taken to shouting at the drivers for parking our buses in the bus park, as they don’t want them outside their flat. All engines are shut down once parked. The bus park is provided by East Devon District Council for buses and coaches to use on a pay and display based ticketing arrangement. It isn’t for the bus drivers to be shouted at by residents who don’t welcome the facility. Not a particularly good welcome for the much needed tourists bringing their spending to the town. We no longer wish to subject our staff to such behavior from a small minority of locals.
We have also experienced people deliberately parking their cars badly on the approach to our depot at Colyton Station in an attempt to make access difficult. The poor parking would also obstruct emergency vehicles attempting to access the tramway, nearby houses and the adjacent business units. The same resident who is parking badly, has previously told Derek that he doesn’t believe there is a place for open top bus tours in this part of the country.
Owner Derek Gawn has said “I have finally made my mind up about the Mule, and the final nails were not mechanical issues or the weather. It’s the continual whining of a few in Seaton and Colyton. I do realise that 99% of people do support us, but I can no longer cope with the 1%.”

Many of the passengers using our service originate from the holiday parks around Lyme Regis and Charmouth using the service to enjoy the local scenery and hopping on and off all day visiting local attractions along the route as well as local shops, restaurants and bars. Our tickets allow unlimited all day travel, which unlike a traditional bus ticket means passengers can hop on and off along the full route for one flat fare.

We’d like to thank all of our supporters across the route, who have made us welcome and accept a very small minority has brought this decision to withdraw our service. We apologise to all of our supporters and passengers for the sudden withdrawal of service.
As a thank you after 1:50pm on Sunday 10th September, we will not be charging our standard fare, and simply ask for a minimum £5 donation per person which we will be donating to the RNLI. Hopefully we can see as many of our supporters as possible for the last few hours of service and helping a good cause at the same time.

The operator which has a fleet of heritage open top buses with an average age of 39 years  has operated since 2015 along the Jurassic Coast with no miles missed in 2017 for mechanical reasons, and despite being full open top buses have only cancelled 3 days due to bad weather. The exemplary service provided by the operator can be seen by their perfect 5 star review rating on Facebook, as well as a Trip Advisor score of 5.0 out of 5.

A shame we cannot name and shame these vindictive spoilsports so we can all give them a taste of their own medicine.

That would pour oil on the flames.

An eye for an eye and everyone ends up blind.

I'd rather hear their side of the story first.

The same couple complain regularly about the tram, the youth club to the point the youth club closed down. We don't know their names, they're an elderly couple who have a balcony overlooking the coach park.
I've learnt this evening they are well known whiners.

This is a sorry state of affairs. If a few people really have the power to close a tourist attraction and a youth facility then things are really at a low point in this part of the world.  As BNM has said, it would be interesting to hear the whole story: I wouldn't want to fall into sounding like the simplistic tabloid press.

Wherever the fault lies, the outcomes are beyond disappointing. Perhaps the local authority needs to find out what is happening in their area.

I'm more interested in what AVMT have to say. They're reputation is being impugned.

The text quoted earlier is very carefully worded ...

And there is  (or to be pedantic was, when I looked) a great deal more on the subject on the public Facebook threads.

That is NOT saying that AVMT have generated the unpleasant emails, etc. - it rather suggests that someone has been using their name. It would be good to have been able to get verification officially from AVMT that the emails and messages were not their official view, and indeed that they wished to distance themselves from said comment.  However, the Jurassic Mule state "we haven't been able to verify such" which suggests they have tried, and failed (as yet?) to get that verification.

Within the thread, there was a question on fare structures said to have been officially raised.   It's perfectly allowed for such a question to be raised - I suspect that the Jurassic Mule with 20,000 journeys this year may have had a noticeable abstraction effect on regular scheduled services on the same flow.   However, the way commercial fares work, it's typically up to the individual operator as to what to charge, with freedom to compete being the all-powerful mantra. That may mean that the viability of a year round service is threatened by a summer only operator.

Graham, we were more expensive on the leg of journey (Seaton/Beer) that is also covered by AVMT than them.
We are however cheaper than First and stagecoach on the respective legs they work.
It doesn't make sense why avmt would get upset by our fares being dearer than them.
We haven't done any extensive marketing at the AVMT end of the route, as AVMT had always been so friendly.
I have verified one of the posters on Facebook is an employee of AVMT but not if it's an official view. Another although unverified, knew AVMT had supplied us with a couple of bus parts for no charge over the summer. An outsider wouldn't know that. If they aren't official views assuming a social media policy is in place, the comments left publicly would likely be a disciplinary matter in most employers.

Just seen this news item on the BBC Dorset website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41199363

At one point this afternoon it was the 6th top story on the BBC news front page!

I spotted it at no. 3 at one point.   Really touched the public ...

And covered by BBC Spotlight this evening

The comments and messages of support have been incredible. The interview on spotlight was heavily edited down. I suspect they'll feature the full version in the week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b093nprv

About 4 mins in. A much edited version of the interview

It has also made the online edition of the Daily Telegraph

Derek was on the Jeremy Vine show today. 1:09:04 onwards

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0940kzk

We've also been made aware of a lot of incorrect reporting by some of the tabloids, who've juiced the story up with some inaccuracies!
They've also reused photos without asking from our Facebook page.
Apparently Facebook T&Cs allow them to reuse any photos of postings to Facebook without permission of the contributor.

I listened to the interview on the Jeremy Vine show this morning.

Very one sided, but that was because the alleged complainers didn't contribute, not even anonymously.

Derek Gawn was very composed telling his tale, although he was given an easy time by JV. For me, something just didn't sit right. Can't quite put my finger on it...

Following some critical letters in the local press from two individuals who were the main protagonists, Derek has now had a full reply printed on page 32
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=7aaeef1d-9a9e-466e-9fc1-23d967b518a7 (http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=7aaeef1d-9a9e-466e-9fc1-23d967b518a7)

Hopefully these work, but they are files I have of the letter sent. I believe they have published unedited though.

Thanks for posting, richwarwicker.

Such a sad ending to this story.

My very best wishes to Derek Gawn for a long and happy retirement.

On today’s Bridport News website, the Mule may return but it depends on a crowd funding appeal

http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/15856809.Do_you_miss_this_familiar_sight__Well__you_could_help_it_return/

Thanks for highlighting this, we had no contact from the media before their report. in addition to the crowd funding we’ve had a couple of larger donations paid directly to the business account, so well on our way to the target.

Excellent news - The Jurassic Mule runs again in 2018.

Such excellent news ... I have split to a thread of its own at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19840.0