Somerset bus franchising report expected by May 2027

Somerset Council's initial assessment will compare franchising with the current partnership. No decision has been made to change how buses are run.

Somerset Council expects recommendations on bus franchising by May 2027, following an initial assessment of whether the system could work across the county.

The council's published timetable gives May 2027 as the target for recommendations, but does not confirm whether they will be released before or after the local elections on 6 May.

The assessment is comparing different franchising models with Somerset's existing Enhanced Partnership. The Bus Advisory Board minutes say the work will consider governance, delivery options and engagement with operators and stakeholders. No preferred option has been identified.

Somerset's bus services are currently run by private operators, with the council subsidising some routes that would otherwise not be commercially viable, including the 25 between Taunton and Dulverton and the 54 between Taunton and Yeovil.

Under franchising, the council would set routes, fares, timetables and service standards, then award contracts to operators to run them. Powers to introduce bus franchising have been available to local transport authorities in England since December 2024; the Department for Transport's guidance says franchising is not compulsory.

Natasha Bates, the council's service manager for transport planning, gave an update when the board met virtually on 13 October. She said:

"The pre-assessment is the only bit of the process for which we've got funding at the moment. Hopefully by the time we get to May, we should have a pre-assessment decision. What that will means is that our appointed consultants, WSP, will set out their recommendations for us moving forward.

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"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."

If franchising is recommended, the council would need further government funding to carry out a statutory assessment before it could decide whether to proceed.

David Redgewell, from the South West Transport Network, questioned the potential cost and scale of a change, drawing on his experience with the North East Combined Authority.

He said: "You are looking at purchasing from FirstGroup 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 hasn't gone down that line with North Somerset, and the mayor is bucking at the cost of doing it unless she get 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's do the study and see how we go, but let's 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'."

Reporting: Daniel Mumby/LDRS