Two bus routes in Frome have been denied a share of £13.1m of central government funding to bring back regular Saturday services
Councillor Dawn Denton has called on Somerset Council to use government funding to help restore Saturday bus services connecting Frome with surrounding rural communities.
Speaking at a recent meeting of Somerset Council, Councillor Denton raised concerns over the continued lack of Saturday services on the 162 and 184 routes, arguing that years of service reductions had left many residents isolated and contributed to falling passenger numbers.
The 162 route connects Frome and Shepton Mallet through villages including Nunney and Cranmore, while the 184 links Frome with Midsomer Norton via Mells and Holcombe.
Councillor Denton questioned why Somerset Council was refusing to trial improved Saturday services despite the county receiving millions of pounds in government funding to support local bus provision.
Councillor Dawn Denton said:
"I am concerned by the response given to the Somerset Bus Partnership regarding requests to improve services affecting Frome and the surrounding communities.
The council’s response states that reinstating Saturday services on the 162 and 184 routes is not considered viable because weekday patronage levels are currently low.
However, passengers and stakeholders consistently point out that these services have already been significantly reduced over the past decade, from regular Monday to Saturday services to limited weekday-only provision with inconvenient timings.
It is therefore unsurprising that passenger numbers have declined when services no longer operate at the times people need them."
She then asked:
"Can the council explain how it intends to grow rural bus patronage and reduce transport isolation if it continues to use low passenger numbers, on already reduced and unattractive services, as justification for refusing investment?
Will the council commit to piloting improved Saturday services on the 162 and 184, using the government funding specifically allocated for improving local bus provision, so that these routes can be properly assessed on the basis of a usable service rather than a residual one?"
During the debate, Somerset Council’s Liberal Democrat administration argued that limited funding meant bus subsidies had to focus on routes considered most financially viable, though the council confirmed that passenger numbers on the 184 route would continue to be monitored ahead of future timetable changes.
