‘Lifeline’ bus services saved

A new agreement between an operator and a council has secured four major bus routes in Somerset until March 2025.

Somerset Council will continue to fund both the 25 (Taunton – Dulverton) and 54 (Taunton – Yeovil) routes.

FirstBus (South West), which trades as The Buses of Somerset, will run both the 28 (Taunton – Minehead) and 58 (Yeovil – Wincanton) services without a subsidy.

Peter Travis, co-chair of passenger lobby group Somerset Bus Partnership, said it was ‘good news’ but added ‘the devil would be in the detail’.