Two Somerset bus routes denied share of £13.1m for Saturday services
Two bus routes in Frome have been denied a share of £13.1m of central government funding to bring back regular Saturday services
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed in December 2025 that Somerset would receive just over £24.7m of funding to support local bus services up to 2030.
Of this, just over £13.1m comprises revenue spending, which can be used to reduce running costs for passengers (e.g. capping the fares on Taunton’s park and ride service), while nearly £11.6m has been provided for capital projects, such as the delivery of Taunton’s new transport hub and its rural counterpart in Langport.
Councillor Dawn Denton, the Conservative division member for Frome North, has called on the council to allocate some of the £13.1m towards restoring Saturday services to the 162 and 184 routes, which run between Frome and the neighbouring villages.
The council has said that neither of these routes represent a cost-effective use of public money – though it may review its decision once the new timetables are published in the autumn.
Ms Denton put her concerns across when the full council met in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon (May 20).
She 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.”
The 162 service is operated by FromeBus and runs on weekdays between Frome and Shepton Mallet, via Nunney, Stoke St. Michael, Cranmore and Doulting.
The 184 service, operated by Libra Travel, runs on weekdays between Frome and Midsomer Norton, via Great Elm, Mells, Holcombe and Stratton-on-the-Fosse.
Ms Denton continued: “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?”
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport, said that the council’s limited funding for bus subsidies had to be use in the most cost-effective way possible.
Mr Wilkins (who represents the Curry Rivel and Langport division) said: “When investing in public bus services, we need to ensure that we do consider value for money. With limited financial resource, investment in services has to be targeted where routes are most viable and have a chance of becoming sustainable in the future.
“Traditional bus services are not always the most viable option, and alternative solutions – such as demand-responsive transport – provide more isolated communities with opportunities to travel.
“While the response to the Somerset Bus Partnership advised that subsidising Saturday services with low anticipated numbers is not viable, we did confirm that we would continue to monitor patronage on the 184 and would review this again at the September timetable change – but we cannot make any promises.
“Unfortunately, the patronage on the 162 during the week is very low, and we do not believe that a Saturday service on this route would be value for money.”