Bus service threat and ideas to improve

More passengers are needed to help save the 25 bus from cuts.

First Bus proposed service reductions from September 2023, which have been avoided, for now, by funding from Somerset Council to continue the current timetable until April 2024 (see updates on latest position below).

Wiveliscombe Bus User Group launched a campaign with posters and a stall in The Square on 16 September 2023, which attracted a lot of interest. Visit the group’s web-pages for links to timetables and access to bus tracking and also see the group’s Facebook page.

I support the bus user group and positive initiatives at the council. I also support ideas initially developed by Somerset Bus Partnership to allow a connection to Wellington and more frequent buses through Wiveliscombe and Milverton that connect to both Taunton and Wellington.

UPDATE: 22 Oct 2023

Somerset Council is working with community groups, including the Wivey Bus Group, to promote greater use of threatened services. The aim is to highlight that a bus journey allows you to relax on the way and the cost is lower than some other expenses.

There is good news that the £2 single fare cap has been extended by the government to the end of 2024, although other government support for public transport remains inadequate.

UPDATE: 27 April 2024

Regrettably, the 25 timetable has been cut from 15 April 2024. In February, Somerset Council announced an agreement had been reached with Buses of Somerset for the service to continue but with some changes to the timetable.

The good news soon turned sour. I requested a copy of the new timetable and published it on community Facebook pages. It showed a disjointed new 25 service with 3-hour gaps at key times in the morning (to Taunton) and afternoon (return). Wivey Bus User Group and I drew attention to the problems.

However, only minor improvements to the new timetable were secured. It also became apparent that extra funding for the reduced 25 service from April 2024 would only last until March 2025, so there is a real risk of further service cuts at that time.

A positive development is a Public and Community Transport Working Group established by the Local Community Network for Wellington and Wiveliscombe, which I have been selected to chair. The group consists of representatives from parish and town councils, local bus user groups, Wiveliscombe Area Partnership and Transition Town Wellington. We are looking for ways to improve how resources for local public and community transport are used, and aim to produce a report on our findings and recommendations in late 2024 or early 2025.

UPDATE: 24 Sept 2024

Following a series of meetings, including with Somerset Council officers, the LCN Transport Working Group has issued initial recommendations to Somerset Council and First Bus, which include:

• On the 25 route, restoring the 9:30 from Wiveliscombe to Taunton and a mid-afternoon service (around 16:00) from Taunton to Wiveliscombe, and adding an early evening service from Taunton (around 18:45) to Wiveliscombe.
• Better promotion of Slinky services, which are now open for car owners to use too.

Our group has also developed ideas to split the 25 route and provide a new service between Wiveliscombe and Wellington, and to better use school and Slinky buses, which we are currently discussing with Somerset Council and First Bus.