By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby
Two bus routes in Frome have been denied a share of £13.1m of central government funding to bring back regular Saturday services.
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed in December 2025 that Somerset would receive just over £24.7m of funding to support local bus services up to 2030.
Of this, just over £13.1m comprises revenue spending, which can be used to reduce running costs for passengers (e.g. capping the fares on Taunton’s park and ride service), while nearly £11.6m has been provided for capital projects, such as the delivery of Taunton’s new transport hub and its rural counterpart in Langport.
Councillor Dawn Denton, the Conservative division member for Frome North, has called on the council to allocate some of the £13.1m towards restoring Saturday services to the 162 and 184 routes, which run between Frome and the neighbouring villages.
The council has said that neither of these routes represent a cost-effective use of public money – though it may review its decision once the new timetables are published in the autumn.
Cllr Denton put her concerns across at a full council meeting on Wednesday 20th May.
She said, “I am concerned by the response given to the Somerset Bus Partnership regarding requests to improve services affecting Frome and the surrounding communities.
“The council’s resp-onse states that reinstating Saturday services on the 162 and 184 routes is not considered viable because weekday patronage levels are currently low.
“However, passengers and stakeholders consistently point out that these services have already been significantly reduced over the past decade, from regular Monday to Saturday services to limited weekday-only provision with inconvenient timings.
“It is therefore unsurprising that passenger numbers have declined when services no longer operate at the times people need them.”
The 162 service is operated by FromeBus and runs on weekdays between Frome and Shepton Mallet, via Nunney, Stoke St. Michael, Cranmore and Doulting.
The 184 service, operated by Libra Travel, runs on weekdays between Frome and Midsomer Norton, via Great Elm, Mells, Holcombe and Stratton-on-the-Fosse.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport, said that the council’s limited funding for bus subsidies had to be use in the most cost-effective way possible.
Richard Wilkins (who represents the Curry Rivel and Langport division) said, “When investing in public bus services, we need to ensure that we do consider value for money. With limited financial resource, investment in services has to be targeted where routes are most viable and have a chance of becoming sustainable in the future.”
Pictured: Cllr Dawn Denton. Credit: Somerset Council.
