Somerset's bus services could move to Manchester approach

Bus services in Somerset are currently run by private operators, with Somerset Council providing subsidies to individual routes which would otherwise not be commercially viable (such as the 25 between Taunton and Dulverton and the 28 between Taunton and Minehead).

Following the passage of the Bus Services Act 2025, any local authority in the UK can move to a franchising system where contracts are centrally awarded to run specific routes.

The franchising system is currently only in operation in Greater London and Manchester, though several other urban areas (such as Birmingham and Nottingham) are looking to transition to this system by 2029.

Following a formal request in the spring, Somerset Council has now been awarded funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) for a "pre-feasibility assessment", which would assess how easily such a system could be implemented in Somerset.

Under bus franchising, the council would award exclusive contracts to private operators (such as FirstBus) to run bus services on specific routes or areas.

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

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport, said that there would be extensive consultation with bus users and groups like the Somerset Bus Partnership to see whether franchising would be viable in Somerset.

Mr Wilkins - who represents the Curry Rivel and Langport division - said: "We are grateful to the government for providing this opportunity.

"We will thoroughly test whether franchising can realistically deliver better outcomes for passengers than Somerset’s current approach through enhanced partnership arrangements, the bus service improvement plan (BSIP) interventions, and targeted service support.

Councillor Richard Wilkins at the 'park and bus' site on the Orchard Grove estate in Taunton (Image: Somerset Council)

"This is a fantastic opportunity to provide a robust evidence base to inform future decision-making.

"We are going to work really closely with stakeholders, including bus user groups, to understand current shortcomings that could be fixed either by a revised and improved enhanced partnership or a franchised approach.

"This is about unpacking all the options and seeing what could work in Somerset to deliver improved bus services."

Further discussion of the pre-feasibility assessment is expected to take place as the next meeting of the council's bus advisory board (which brings together councillors, operators and campaigners) on October 13.