Gideon Amos welcomes bus routes news

Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Taunton and Wellington has expressed his delight that four under-threat bus routes in Somerset have been protected for another year.

The four services - 58, 54, 28 and 25 - were at risk of being stopped or reduced due to local passenger numbers.

Mr Amos said: “I’ve been meeting with our Lib Dem Cllr Richard Wilkins weekly to try and ensure the continued operation of all these bus services.

"I’m absolutely delighted these key routes will now not only be saved but improved to better serve Norton Fitzwarren and other villages, all thanks to our LibDem team at County Hall.

"Quite frankly after the government has cut funding for social care by 60%, leaving the council’s budget reeling, it’s impressive that Richard and his team have pulled off such a successful negotiation with the private bus operator, especially when the council is allowed no direct control over them. 

"In my opinion local buses should never have been privatised”

“This means that, since Lib Dem councillors took over, they have begun to bring back public transport by saving the Park and Ride from closure (proposed by the outgoing Conservative administration), brought back night buses and reduced fares in Taunton to £1 as well as saving and improving these services. I’m very grateful for their hard work”.