Somerset bus volunteers praised in Parliament

A £6.8 million boost for bus funding in Somerset has been welcomed by Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington.

But he told Parliament on Monday that it was much less than was needed.
The support is part of a £1 billion government fund to improve services, protect vital routes, and keep fares down.

In a question to the Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, Mr Amos said Somerset was rated as having the worst county bus service in the country.

However, he added: “I particularly welcome the ending of the lottery that sets one community against another.

Mr Amos asked: “Will the Secretary of State congratulate the Somerset Bus Partnership volunteers who, working with my Liberal Democrat colleagues now running Somerset Council, prevented the previous Conservative county council from closing the park and ride, got night buses going and have begun a new transport hub since the bus station in Taunton was closed as a result of Conservative privatisation?”

The Transport Secretary replied: “It sounds like the Somerset volunteers are doing a cracking job.

“I am very happy to congratulate them and to welcome the £6.8 million of funding announced for Somerset today.”