A MAJOR report on the possibility of bus services being switched to a franchised system is to be published by Somerset Council - but not until after next May’s local elections.

The county’s bus services are currently run by private operators, with the council providing subsidies for some individual routes which would otherwise not be commercially viable.

These include the No 25 service between Dulverton and Taunton which also serves Wiveliscombe and Milverton.

The law now allows local authorities to move to a franchising system where contracts are centrally awarded to run specific routes.

Somerset was awarded Department for Transport funding in July for a pre-feasibility assessment to look at how easily such a system could be implemented.

The council has now said the outcome of the assessment will be made public in May, after the local elections, but before voters go to the polls to elect a first Wessex regional mayor.

Franchising would see the council award contracts to private operators such as First Bus to run services on specific routes or in particular areas.

Unlike the current ‘enhanced partnership’ system, the council would retain control over routes, fares, timetables, and service standards.

If the council went ahead with franchising, it would require more assessment, public consultation, and tendering, so the first franchised bus service might not run until May, 2029.

Somerset Council is looking at the possibility of taking over bus services under a franchising scheme which has now been made law.
Somerset Council is looking at the possibility of taking over bus services under a franchising scheme which has now been made law. (First Bus)

Council transport planning manager Natasha Bates said: “The pre-assessment is the only bit of the process for which we have funding at the moment.

“Hopefully, by the time we get to May, we should have a pre-assessment decision.

“What that will mean is that our appointed consultants, WSP, will set out their recommendations for us moving forward.

“If franchising is the recommended way forward, then we will need to secure additional funding from central Government before we can move to the next stage.”

South West Transport Network’s David Redgewell expressed scepticism about a move to franchising, citing his experience of working with the North East Combined Authority which brings together Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, and County Durham.

Mr Redgewell said: “You are looking at purchasing from First Group plc, South West Coaches, and any other operator, their depots and resources.

“It is a huge operation.

“This is big money for a rural county.

“WECA has not gone down that line with North Somerset, and the mayor is bucking at the cost of doing it unless she gets a massive grant from Andy Burnham.

“Yeovil depot is basically a yard with some facilities which First Group has put there, while Wells is quite substantial.

“You are going to be looking at purchasing the site in Minehead, and Hamilton Road, in Taunton, along with the mothballed bus depot in Bridgwater.

“I just would ask Somerset Council to be very cautious.

“Let us do the study and see how we go, but let us have the real figures and the real picture, and not let the press run it as though it will be ‘public buses in Somerset tomorrow’.”