After years of service decline, better bus services were provided from 2025 for Milverton, Wiveliscombe and villages 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 was used to support the following service improvements from 22 April 2025:
Route 25 – The route was split with the new 25 serving Wiveliscombe to Taunton. It only extended to Dulverton on the first and last services of the day. The new timetable has smaller service gaps, better timings and some leeway to allow better reliability. The service is operated by First Bus.
Route 26 – A new route (previously covered by the 25) serving Dulverton to Wiveliscombe, which is operated by Somerset Council using a minibus with 14-23 seats.
Route 27 – A restored route between Wiveliscombe and Wellington, which also covers West Buckland and has stops at Langford Budville and Milverton, including Butts Way and Spring Grove Cross (hail to request). Initially, the 27 was operated as a trial by Somerset Council using a minibus with 14-23 seats on two days a week. This was extended from April 2026 to operate three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays – except bank holidays).
TIMETABLES for these services can be viewed and buses tracked at bustimes.org – see: 26 and 27 operated by Somerset Council and 25 operated by First Bus.
Other bus service improvements from 2025 included:
- 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 started to allow booking up to an hour before travel (instead of 24 hours as before). This can be booked using a new online app or by phone. The Slinky service also allow booking by those with their own cars and not just those without.
- New electric buses on some Somerset routes, including Wellington to Taunton (route 22).
Wivey Link also 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.
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Calls for new bus services pays off
The service improvements followed strong calls for better buses serving the Wivey area.
The Wivey-Welly Bus User Group campaigns for better and more reliable buses, which included a call to restore a service between Wiveliscombe and Wellington. A petition signed by 1,360 people was 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 were largely been adopted.
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More on the 27 service
The 27 can be used on a hail and ride basis. It serves 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 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 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.
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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