After years of service decline, better bus services are on the way for Milverton, Wiveliscombe and those on routes to Taunton and Wellington.
Somerset Council received additional Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding for 2025/26 of £3.3m for capital and £2.9m for revenue spending. Some of this is being used by Somerset Council to support the following service improvements in Upper Tone from 22 April 2025:
Route 25 – The route will be split with the new 25 from 22 April serving Wiveliscombe to Taunton. It will only extend to Dulverton on the first and last services of the day. There will be a new timetable with smaller service gaps, better timings and some leeway to allow better reliability. The service will continue to be operated by First Bus.
Route 26 – A new route (previously covered by the 25) serving Dulverton to Wiveliscombe, which will be operated by Somerset Council using a minibus with 14-23 seats.
Route 27 – A restored route between Wiveliscombe and Wellington, which will also cover West Buckland and have stops at Langford Budville and Milverton, including Butts Way and Spring Grove Cross (hail to request). This will be operated as a trial by Somerset Council using a minibus with 14-23 seats on Tuesdays and Thursdays (except bank holidays).
New timetables for the 25, 26 and 27 from 22 April 2025 are given below.
Other bus service improvements during 2025/26 will include:
- Richard Huish College stop for the 25 bus at 16:42 on college days only.
- Digital Slinky (on demand) buses for villages not on the main bus routes will allow booking up to an hour before travel from this summer (currently Slinky needs to be booked 24 hours before). Book using new online app or by phone. The Slinky service has already changed to allow booking by those with their own cars and not just those without.
- The installation of priority traffic signals for buses in Taunton.
- New electric buses on some Somerset routes, including Wellington to Taunton (route 22).
- For news on bus improvements throughout Somerset see: Council unveils major package of bus service improvement measures.
Wivey Link continues to provide community transport for anyone who, for whatever reason, has no access to public or private transport and to those residents who are chronically sick or disabled. Wivey Link operates weekdays, except bank holidays, from approximately 9am to 6pm. You need to register and pre-book in advance.
Calls for new bus services pays off
The service improvements follow strong calls for better buses serving the Wivey area over the last 18 months.
The Wivey-Welly Bus User Group has campaigned for better and more reliable buses. This included a campaign to restore a service between Wiveliscombe and Wellington, with a petition signed by 1,360 people presented to Somerset Council on 18 December 2024 (photo taken outside the full council meeting venue above). This local campaign was also supported by Somerset Bus Partnership.
In addition, a Public and Community Transport Working Group was established in April 2024 by the Local Community Network for Wellington and Wiveliscombe, which I chaired. The group consists of representatives from parish and town councils, local bus user groups, Wiveliscombe Area Partnership and Transition Town Wellington. We submitted recommendations and ideas for service improvements that have largely been adopted with the bus service changes to be made this year.
New Timetables
New timetables from TUESDAY, 22 APRIL 2025 are planned to be as follows:
Click on timetables to view and download a PDF copy.
The 27 can be used on a hail and ride basis, which will serve all request stops and anywhere else where it’s safe to stop along the rural parts of the route (but not in town). Ensure the driver knows by clearly putting your hand out to be picked up and ask to be dropped off. Request stops on the route will include Butts Way in Milverton and Lidl in Wellington. It will need to be hailed at Spring Grove Cross when travelling between Milverton and Langford Budville.
The new 27 route is being operated as a trial during 2025/26. If well used and funding remains, it should be retained. Amongst other changes, I have asked if there could be another return service from Wellington in the afternoon and suggested extending the route to include Fitzhead and Halse. The timetable is now registered and fixed from 22 April, but it may be possible to consider improvements when timetable changes are next considered from September. Again, showing good use and potential demand will be important.
The minibuses used on the 26 and 27 will normally have a low floor and be accessible to wheelchair users, but, unfortunately, this cannot be guaranteed. Bus stops also need to allow accessible use and some are not suitable at present, but this is being worked on. It is hoped more accessible stops will be established in the near future, including in Milverton, where this is currently a problem.
UPDATED: 3 April 2025
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What a marvellous result! I am delighted with the improved service and even more delighted with the wellington bus. when does it begin and is it wheelchair accessible?
Jill
Hi Jill, The Wellington bus (27) starts on 22 April. The intention is to provide a low floor bus which is wheelchair accessible, but some smaller buses in the council’s fleet are not and so I’m told accessibility cannot be guaranteed. There has also been an issue with the bus stops in Milverton not being accessible. I’ve been pressing for this to be addressed for a long time. At last, there is some budget to improve stops from April and a meeting has already been arranged to look at what can be done. When one or more stops are sorted, the 27 bus will normally be wheelchair accessible, although I’m sorry to pass on that it might not be on some days if a suitable bus is not available. Over time, I’m told all the buses should become wheelchair accessible as they are replaced. Best wishes, Dave