Wells has been ranked as one of the cities with the fewest transport connections in the UK, according to a new study by transportation company CMAC Group.

The analysis places Wells in the seventh position from the bottom, between the university city of Bangor and Peterborough. The study highlights that Wells, with a population of 12,110, has only 85 bus stops and no train station, underscoring the city's limited transport infrastructure. In comparison, Bangor, with a population of 16,000, has 122 connections, and Peterborough, with a population of 216,300, has 74 connections.

St David's, the UK's smallest city, was found to have the worst transport connectivity, while London topped the list with over 17,000 connections.

Using data from the National Public Transport Access Nodes (NPTAN), CMAC assessed the number of bus and coach stops, train stations, and other transportation hubs in each city. The findings reveal a significant challenge for Wells, as Peter Slater, CEO of CMAC Group, stressed the need for policymakers in underperforming cities to prioritise investment in public transit infrastructure.

"There's a clear challenge faced by residents and commuters in cities with inadequate public transit infrastructure, leaving them to face long wait times and limited connectivity, impacting their ability to access employment and education opportunities, and essential services," said Slater.

Local officials in Wells have been making efforts to maintain and improve the city's bus services. Earlier this year, the 126 bus route between Wells and Weston-super-Mare, which was discontinued in October 2022, was reinstated. However, the future of this route remains uncertain.

Hannah Young, North Somerset Council's executive member for highways and transport, emphasised the precarious nature of the situation. "Use it or lose it, as we have no certainty of future funding for this route," she said.