Ashley Fox, MP for Bridgwater, has been pressing for improvements to local bus services following concerns raised by residents in his recent survey. Hundreds of responses highlighted key issues such as unreliable services, limited evening routes, and inadequate bus connections to villages and new housing estates.
As a result, Ashley Fox met with senior representatives from First Bus to discuss these concerns. He raised issues regarding service reliability, the need for later buses, and the lack of services in certain areas. While First Bus acknowledged some ongoing challenges, including congestion and motorway diversions, they committed to reviewing specific problem areas, including routes with no current service despite the presence of bus stops.
Ashley Fox also wrote to Somerset Council, calling on them to utilise Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding to address these issues. Specifically, he asked the Council to:
- Support additional buses on congested routes to improve reliability.
- Subsidise later finish times on rural routes to encourage greater usage.
- Expand services to under-served areas such as Wilstock, Stockmoor, Puriton, and Chilton Trinity.
- Consider improving routes with existing bus stops but insufficient service, such as along Love Lane in Burnham-on-Sea.
In response, Cllr Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, acknowledged the concerns and confirmed that they would be fed into the Council’s considerations. He also stated that the Council is in discussions with National Highways and the Police about motorway-related congestion and working with contractors to minimise disruption caused by roadworks.
Commenting on the response, Ashley Fox MP said:
“Bus services are vital for many residents, and I am pleased that both First Bus and Somerset Council have recognised the need for improvement. While there is work to be done, I will continue to push for tangible changes that make a real difference to passengers in the constituency. The council must also be mindful of the need to coordinate the organisation of roadworks so as to minimise delays to bus services. I welcome the Council’s assurance that my proposals will be considered, and I will follow up to ensure action is taken.”
