IT’S good news for bus services in West Somerset that faced an uncertain future – two separate organisations have announced it will be business as usual.

Somerset County Council this week confirmed there will be a smooth transition to a new operator for two local routes, and EDF Energy announced it will continue its free public service for another year.

The council said it is in the final stages of agreeing arrangements for new operators to take on the Number 10 route between Minehead and Porlock and the Number 11 Minehead town route.

Buses of Somerset, which was due to finish operating them on Sunday (February 4), has agreed to extend the services until Saturday February 17, to allow time for discussions to be concluded.

“Although the details are still being finalised, we are confident that [the bus routes] will be replaced from Monday February 19, with no gap in service,” a spokesman for the council said.

In a separate move, a free bus service set up for a trial year and funded by EDF Energy is to continue for another 12 months, linking villages and towns from Minehead to Bridgwater, it was confirmed last week.

The service provides three free buses each way from Monday to Friday, and is run by Somerset Passenger Solutions, which transports employees to Hinkley Point C.

The deal with the bus company and EDF was brokered last year after weeks of negotiation, when towns and villages on the route were without public transport for three months after the original bus company stopped the Number 14 service, as it was unviable.

Cllr Hugh Davies, Williton ward county councillor, who was instrumental in arranging the original deal, this week told the Free Press he was delighted it was officially confirmed last week that the service is continuing.

A spokesman for EDF said that last month an average of 15 people a day used the service.

David Eccles, head of stakeholder engagement for EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C, said: “It’s a real pleasure to be able to continue providing this bus service for the next 12 months as it makes a big difference to the lives of local people."

It has certain restrictions to avoid conflicting with the commercial 28 service, and leaves Minehead at 10am, 11.30am and 1pm.

The bus service runs from Bancks Street in Minehead, calling at Dunster Steep, Carhampton Community Hall, Blue Anchor Driftwood Café, Watchet rail station and Liddymore Road shops, Doniford, Hood Arms in Kilve, Plough Inn at Holford, Pooles Close and Castle Street in Nether Stowey, the Acland Hood Arms in Stogursey, Crossway Farm in Combwich.

It also has around 20 stops on the way where passengers can board or leave the bus.