BUS campaigners have called for an evening service to be restored for Wiveliscombe and to also serve Milverton on the route to Taunton.

The two communities used to be served by evening buses running as late as 10.30 pm, including a mid-evening service stopping at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

But, bus subsidies were slashed in half by the then-Somerset County Council 15 years ago in 2011 and many evening services were withdrawn.

Further cuts followed in subsequent years, and now there are no evening services at all for the two communities, with the last bus of the day leaving from Taunton at 5.40 pm.

Now, the Wivey-Welly Bus User Group has carried out a public consultation to gauge local opinion on the prospect of an evening service starting again.

Of the 78 responses received, only two were opposed to the idea.

A bus user group spokesperson said: “Several of our respondents also mentioned the need for a Sunday service, which was also lost to our communities in 2011.

“The lack of evening buses has a significant impact on people living in rural communities, residents can become trapped at home with reduced opportunities for employment, education, and social interaction, resulting in increased loneliness, a loss of independence, and health issues.

“Young people are denied opportunities to meet friends, gain self-reliance, and fully engage in activities important to their development, education, and wellbeing.

“Respondents told us an evening bus would enable them to connect with friends and family, visit pubs, eat out, or take trips to cinemas, theatres, or musical performances.

“Some said they would use a restored service for shopping, evening classes, meetings, or talks.

“Others mentioned how essential it was to have a later service home, in order to connect with trains, buses, and coaches following days away or medical appointments.

“The absence of public transport in the evenings or on Sundays means residents are unable to access employment involving shift work, and in turn, employers who need workers to cover evening and weekend shifts cannot recruit.

“This has a significant impact on employment, particularly in the health and social care sector.

“Several respondents said they would use an evening service for work.

“Nurses living in Wiveliscombe told us of their difficulties travelling to and from Musgrove Park Hospital for shifts that start or finish in the evenings.

“Wiveliscombe and Milverton are not small villages, at the time of the 2021 census their combined populations totalled 4,169.

“There have been new housing developments since then and more are planned.

“A better bus service is both justified and required.

“The reintroduction of evening services would be in accord with the Government policy of ‘creating sustainable rural communities by integrating public transport with local economic, education, and healthcare needs.’

“To put it more simply - one of the bus users who responded to our survey summed up local feeling when they told us: ‘An evening service is essential to be able to maintain access to the things that are important in my life’.”