Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox has written to Somerset Council calling for a share of new government bus funding to be used to improve local bus services across the constituency.
In a letter to Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, Ashley Fox highlighted the opportunity presented by more than £24.7 million in Department for Transport funding allocated to Somerset up to April 2030, including around £13.1 million for revenue spending that can be used to reduce running costs for passengers.
The letter follows a recent bus services survey conducted by Ashley Fox with residents, which identified persistent gaps in provision across towns, villages and rural communities.
Ashley Fox set out concerns in three key areas. In Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, residents reported poor connectivity with surrounding villages and Weston-super-Mare, particularly on Sundays, and called for more reliable, year-round services that start earlier and run later into the evening. In Bridgwater itself, outlying areas such as Sydenham were highlighted as being poorly served, with existing routes not adequately supporting access to the town centre or neighbouring villages, especially during early mornings and evenings. In rural villages, Ashley Fox noted that services are often minimal or non-existent, with residents raising concerns about the limitations of the Slinky bus service, including difficulty booking and the need for significant advance planning.
The letter also raised specific route proposals from residents, including improved services between Bridgwater and Minehead with stops in villages such as Cannington, Combwich and Nether Stowey, later return services for villages like Middlezoy and Othery, and alternative routing on the Taunton - Bridgwater corridor to better serve communities away from the A38.
Ashley Fox has asked Somerset Council to use the new funding to invest in more frequent and reliable services, improved timetabling, and additional village stops.
He said, “Improved, reliable, and year-round bus services are essential for young people, workers, older residents, and those accessing public services. Without targeted investment in rural routes and off-season provision, there is a real risk that many communities will be left behind as transport improvements focus primarily on urban centres or seasonal demand.”
