THREE Midsomer Norton bus routes and several serving Frome will continue to run thanks to Somerset Council subsidies, which are supporting 82 services across the county this year.

The council subsidises bus routes which would not otherwise be commercially viable, helping to link local communities together and people without a car to travel safety to and from school, work or leisure activities.

Around 30 per cent of the annual subsidy – the equivalent of about £2-million – comes from the Department for Transport (DfT) via the Somerset bus service improvement plan (BSIP), with the remainder coming from the council’s own transport budget.

The council has now confirmed a precise list of all 82 services which will be supported through these subsidies over the next 12 months, following a statement confirming the funding in late-July.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: “We support a huge range of bus services up and down the county, because if we didn’t, there is a very real chance they could be lost.

“Our priority as a council is to keep communities connected by keeping these vital services on the road – getting people to work, school, the shops, for a night out, or to explore our beautiful county.

“But we need people in Somerset to value and use their bus routes regularly – we know if people do, services can become sustainable and remain that way.

“We can’t keep supporting routes if people don’t use them, so wherever you’re going, make sure you try and bus it there at least once or twice a week.”

The £3 cap for single fares remains in place on all Somerset bus services (and those crossing county lines) until March 2027 – and may be extended further by the government in the near-future.

Somerset Council subsidies will continue to support a number of services linking Midsomer Norton and Frome over the next 12 months.

For Midsomer Norton, this includes the 184 from Frome to Midsomer Norton, the 414 from Frome to Midsomer Norton via Kilmersdon, and the 424 from Frome to Midsomer Norton via Radstock.

Frome services benefiting from funding are the 24 to Warminster, the 30 and 31A/31B circular services, the 47 to Westbury via Dilton Marsh, the 58 to Warminster, the 80 to Mere via Maiden Bradley and Kilmington, the 162 to Shepton Mallet via Nunney and Stoke St. Michael, the 184, 414 and 424 to Midsomer Norton, the D2/D2X to Bath via Norton St Philip, the X53 to Warminster, and the X69 to Melksham.

In addition to the revenue support for local bus services (which includes support for evening and weekend services), the Somerset BSIP also includes the provision for major capital improvements to the county’s bus infrastructure.

Feasibility studies have been commissioned for new transport hubs in Bridgwater and Yeovil – the latter of which could be delivered alongside the regeneration of the neighbouring Glovers Walk site.

Full timetables, route details, and fare information for the 184, 414 and 424 are available on the First Bus website at www.firstbus.co.uk.