Introduction
The Department for Transport urged local authorities to continue to pay bus and coach operators for tendered services at the levels before any downturn in service provision or patronage, for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, which Somerset Council committed to do.
The local transport element of the Bus Services Support Grant was allocated to support local bus services, such as tendered bus services that experienced revenue shortfalls.
As a local transport authority, we received an allocation from the Government and have apportioned a total amount of for the period between 17 March 2020 and 31 August 2021 of £644,005.95 to local bus operators in Somerset.
The grant helped Somerset Council to support the following bus mileage within the county during these dates.
Bus Services Support Grant
| Service number | Start location | Finish location | Kilometres funded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Taunton | Bishops Hull | 39123 |
| 5 | Babcary | Yeovil | 7139 |
| 8 | Pilton | Yeovil | 8052 |
| 10 | Minehead | Porlock | 68310 |
| 16 | Huish Episcopi | Bridgwater | 194837 |
| 19 | Shapwick | Bridgwater | 422 |
| 23 | Williton | Taunton | 50637 |
| 29 | Taunton | Wells | 278125 |
| 39 | Bruton | Yeovil | 10186 |
| 51 | Stoke St Gregory | Taunton | 87644 |
| 56 | West Coker | Yeovil | 52992 |
| 67 | Wookey Hole | Wedmore | 89796 |
| 67 | Burnham-on-Sea | Wedmore | 72238 |
| 96 | Chard | Yeovil | 201577 |
| 98 | Broadway | Taunton | 39192 |
| 99 | Chard | Taunton | 126974 |
| 162 | Frome | Shepton Mallet | 106499 |
| 184 | Frome | Midsomer Norton | 98329 |
| 198 | Minehead | Dulverton | 129375 |
| 414 | Frome | Midsomer Norton | 131197 |
| 625 | Taunton | Bridgwater College | 658 |
| 667 | Wincanton | Street | 178641 |
| 668 | Shipham | Street | 105432 |
| 669 | Shepton Mallet | Street | 136910 |
| S1/2/3 | Surrounding villages | Ilminster | 38530 |