Council plans £6m spend to improve bus services

Bus services in Somerset will get a £6m boost in the coming months after the council received government funding.

The money will be used to provide "ongoing support for vital bus routes", according to Somerset Council.

It says it will invest in evening and weekend services between Taunton and Bristol as well as an evening service between Bridgwater and Taunton. The park and ride fare in Taunton will also remain £1.

The changes have been described as "really good news" by co-chair of Somerset Bus Partnership Peter Travis.

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, Mr Travis said it was particularly positive for Yeovil which "really needs much better bus services".

Somerset Council declared a financial emergency in November 2023 and Mr Travis said this has meant while the will has been there to improve bus services, the money has not been.

"It's never enough," he added. "I could give you a list as long as my arm of improvements we want to make but we have to be realistic."

In Yeovil, the 376 service from Bristol via Street will be extended to evenings and Sundays. The town's 51 route will also run on Sundays and there will be an additional late return journey on the CR6 service between Bridport and Yeovil.

The 11 service in Yeovil will be re-routed to "remove some duplication and provide a service to areas", the council said.

It added money will be spent on "continued support" for the 1, 54, 58, 68 and 81 services which link Yeovil with Shepton Mallet, Taunton, Wincanton and South Petherton.

In Bridgwater, the 21 evening service from Taunton will be extended to Burnham-on-Sea.

The frequency of the town's B1 service will be increased during the day and the council says it will continue to financially support the 14 service between Bridgwater and Cannington.

In Taunton, the old bus station will be redeveloped into a transport hub and the fare for a single park and ride journey will remain £1.

Part of the 3 service between Taunton and Bishops Hull will be re-routed to cover South Road, Shoreditch Road and Chestnut Drive.

The council says it will continue to support evening services for the 1E, 21, 22, 28 and 30 routes which serve Bridgwater, Wellington, Minehead and Chard.

Signal improvements will be made in Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil to link buses to traffic lights so they get priority in a bid to reduce journey times.

Lead member for transport Richard Wilkins said the council is "delighted" to be able to make such a "vital investment" in Somerset's bus services.

"Making bus travel a more attractive, reliable option is crucial to increasing bus patronage and ensuring more routes are financially viable," he said.

"It is also really important in terms of ensuring our transport choices are more sustainable in Somerset."

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