A new Somerset bus manifesto has been launched, calling for greater investment, and improvement in the county's bus services.

"We need a new policy on buses for Somerset. Somerset bus services are substandard, yet Somerset County Council has refused to spend any more money on the County's buses. Nor will the Government fund the total cost of the upgrades Somerset says it needs. So, we have launched our Somerset Bus Partnership 'Bus Manifesto' which outlines the steps that need to be taken to improve our Somerset bus services," said Peter Travis, Co-Chair of Somerset Bus Partnership which campaigns for improved bus services in Somerset and encourages the greater use of buses. The Somerset Bus Partnership has more than 120 representatives from the towns and villages across the county.

"Somerset currently has the lowest approval rating of any bus service in England and the second lowest bus journeys per resident." continues Peter. "Last October, Somerset County Council, whilst saying the County would not increase its own funding of buses, submitted a bid to the Department for Transport asking for £163 millions of Government funding. The Government has now said Somerset is only going to receive 7 per cent of what Somerset had wanted.

"The bid for £163 millions was something a pipedream. Yes, we supported it, but no one thought Somerset would get such an eye-watering amount of money, especially as Somerset County Council itself wasn't prepared to fund any of the plan it had produced. So, we need a policy on buses for Somerset that over the next four years sees a steady increase in investment in Somerset's bus services by the County. That's what our Bus Manifesto calls for."

The Somerset Bus Partnership Manifesto is a six-point plan that calls for enhanced evening and weekend bus services, better promotion of existing bus services, buses to be better integrated with train times, an extension of demand responsive 'Slinky' bus services and the introduction of a discounted youth fare. SCC's Climate Emergency Strategy is to achieve a zero-emission bus fleet by 2030, the Bus Manifesto also supports this aim. The Bus Manifesto recognises this is going to require greater funding from Somerset and states that within the next four years Somerset will need to increase its financial support for bus services, so it matches the average of similar rural authorities in the South West.

The Somerset Bus Manifesto is being sent out to all candidates standing in the May 5 Somerset elections inviting them to endorse it.

For further information please contact Peter Travis: m: 0789 491 6452 or email [email protected]