Councillor secures major route upgrades for Taunton

Transport campaigner David Northey is celebrating a series of improvements to bus services across Taunton.

A Liberal Democrat member of Taunton Town Council, he began campaigning 14 months ago on behalf of residents in Wellsprings, Pyrland and the north of Taunton.

He says: “It started with lobbying for the retention of the 6:22am bus from Wellsprings and Pyrland into the Parade. This was an important early morning journey, particularly for people needing to get into Taunton in time to start work at 7am.

“But it soon became clear to me that we could do more. One of the biggest employment sites in Taunton is Musgrove Park Hospital, yet the early morning bus network did not properly connect communities such as Pyrland with the hospital at the times people actually needed to travel to work. Working with the team at First Bus, I have been pressing for the first two Route 1 buses from Pyrland to be extended beyond the town centre.

“I am therefore delighted that, from 1 September, the first two morning buses will be extended to serve County Hall, Parkfield Drive for Musgrove Park Hospital and Somerset College. This is a relatively modest timetable change, but could make a very real difference. It means people living along the Route 1 corridor will be able to use the bus to reach work for 7am and 8am shift starts, rather than having to rely on a car, taxi or a lengthy walk from the town centre.”

David said there were improvements coming in the evening, too.

“The 1E evening services, subsidised by Somerset Council, will now serve the stops between Glen Close, Ludlow Avenue and Rochester Road, rather than running directly along Dorchester Road and missing part of the community. 

“These buses will also run around 15 minutes later from the Park & Ride, which importantly means there will be a bus leaving the Musgrove Park Hospital area towards Pyrland after the main shift change.

“For me, this is what improving public transport should be about: looking at when people actually need to travel, where they need to get to and making sensible changes to the timetable and route.”

David said there was also good news for students.

“From September, students attending Richard Huish College who live along the Route 54 corridor through Somerton, Langport, Curry Rivel and Fivehead will have the first morning and afternoon journeys serving the college.

“That means they will no longer have to rush between Richard Huish College and stops in the town centre to catch their bus home. It is a simple change that makes public transport a much more practical option for young people travelling into Taunton to study.”

David said his campaign for better services would continue.

“I am fortunate to be involved in the Somerset Bus Partnership which is the voice for bus users across the county,” he added.

“These improvements are welcome, but there is still considerably more to do. I want to see a proper Sunday bus service for Taunton, so that communities are not effectively cut off from public transport for one day every week. I also want us to improve roadside bus infrastructure, including better bus stops, information, shelters and facilities that make using the bus easier and more attractive.”

David said his approach over the past 14 months had been straightforward - “listen to passengers, identify practical improvements and then work constructively with the bus companies and Somerset Council to see what can be achieved.

“The changes from 1 September demonstrate that campaigning can make a difference. They are not the end of the journey. They are another step towards the reliable, connected and accessible bus network Taunton needs.

“I plan to campaign for more and would like to hear what will make a difference to your journey.”

Contact David through his Councillor page.