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Calls for Yeovil to benefit from £6.8m bus funding

Alex Ethridge A green single-decker Somerset bus against a grey sky. It has "Taunton, Bridgwater and Burnham" written on itAlex Ethridge
Bus campaigners hope more evening and weekend services will now run

Campaigners have welcomed £6.8m of government funding towards bus services in Somerset.

It is Somerset Council's allocation of a £1bn national pot for the next financial year.

Peter Travis, co-chair of Somerset Bus Partnership, called it "very encouraging news".

He said Yeovil had a "very inadequate bus service", and should be prioritised for investment.

MP Adam Dance greets supporters while wearing a navy suit with a yellow rosette and tie
Adam Dance MP, Lib Dem, Yeovil, will talk about the county's bus services among other subjects in a BBC interview on friday

Jo Reynolds, president of Yeovil Chamber of Commerce, said "more bums on seats" were needed to support the town's bus network.

Somerset Bus Partnership is a voluntary group which works with the council to support the county's bus network.

Mr Travis said Yeovil needed to be given more cash for bus services "first and foremost" - including for evening and weekend buses.

He said his next priority would be Bridgwater which he said is an area of "huge development".

"We need to ensure the bus network matches the potential of the town," he added.

"When £1bn is being divided up we would like even more, but this is a significant amount of money and will make a really material difference to Somerset's bus network."

'Passengers have suffered'

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "This is positive news in terms of supporting our aims to improve bus provision in Somerset.

"In broad terms, while it appears to be a fairer allocation, there’s still some way to go in terms of addressing the balance for public transport in deprived rural areas.

"We are awaiting full detail on the funding from the Department for Transport.

"Once we have this information the council can look at how funding could be used to maximum effect."

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “The value of regular and reliable bus services cannot be understated.

“For far too long, the South West has been suffering from unreliable services with buses hugely delayed, or not even turning up at all.

“This funding kickstarts the bus revolution to bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services, drive economic growth and make sure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities."

Bus services in Yeovil are one of a number of topics that will be put to the local MP Adam Dance in a special BBC Radio Somerset interview on Friday 22 November. Questions can be sent in advance by email to [email protected].

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