First Bus free travel scheme highlights Somerset routes at risk

First Bus runs the majority of services in Bristol and Somerset

Bus passengers can enjoy a free day of travel on four separate routes today.

First Bus South in Somerset is offering free travel on the 25, 28, 54 and 58/58A services all day on 19 December.

The Bus It scheme aims to highlight services currently at risk of being scrapped or reduced at the end of March 2024.

The bus company cannot continue to operate all the routes without subsidy, as currently not enough passengers are using them.

Somerset Council is currently subsidising these routes using funding from a ring-fenced government bus service Improvement plan (BSIP Plus), but cannot commit to continued support in the face of rising pressures and budget cuts.

First Bus South said it will review the routes before the funding ends next year, taking into account new data on passenger uptake on the following services:

• 54: Yeovil-Taunton, including stops at Langport, Somerton and Ilchester 

• 58/58A: Yeovil-Wincanton, including Sherborne, Milborne Port, Henstridge 

• 25: Taunton-Dulverton, including Cotford St. Luke, Norton Fitzwarren and Wiveliscombe 

• 28: Taunton-Minehead, including Bishop's Lydeard, Williton, Watchet and Dunster 

The free day of travel is being run jointly by Somerset Council, the Somerset Bus Partnership and First Bus South.

Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council's lead member for transport, said."We hope it will persuade people to try out their local bus route and have a great day out, whilst leaving the car at home for a change. 

"It might not be free the rest of the year, but bus fares are just £2 for any single journey in Somerset until December 2024, that's amazing value," councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council's lead member for transport, said.

"We really want people to value and help protect these routes and the best way of doing that is to use them."