A Frome councillor has called on Somerset Council to ensure that a portion of a recent £13.1 million government funding boost is dedicated to tackling the “unreliable” bus services affecting the town.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced in December 2025 that Somerset Council will receive over £24.7 million by April 2030 to enhance local bus services—£13.1 million of which is revenue funding available until April 2029. This funding aims to reduce running costs and make public transport more affordable, such as capping fares on Taunton’s park and ride.
Councillor Dawn Denton, Conservative representative for Frome North, insists that Frome deserves its “fair share” of this money to address the town’s declining bus connectivity. She highlighted significant challenges faced by residents during a meeting of the full council in Bridgwater shortly before Christmas.
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“The transport secretary has allocated £13.1 million to improve our declining bus services over the next three years,” said Denton. “Residents across Frome are disadvantaged by poor public transport. Older people from areas like Critchill have to endure long waits and inconvenient bus transfers to reach essential services like medical centres. Young people struggle to access apprenticeships, and hospitality workers rely on unreliable services to get to their jobs.”
While Somerset Council plans to allocate funding decisions over the coming weeks and months, Denton sought transparency on how this money will be divided and which communities will benefit.
In December, the council also announced plans to expand its Digital Slinky service—a pre-bookable minibus scheme serving less accessible areas—using central government grants to purchase six wheelchair-accessible diesel minibuses and one electric minibus supporting Frome’s route 30. However, Denton pointed out that uptake of the Slinky service in former Mendip areas remains low due to factors such as unfamiliarity and the need to pre-book.
“The Slinky Bus is useful but not widely used in our area,” Denton added. “Transport investment is vital both in Frome and its surroundings. We need to know how the £13.1 million will be allocated and the criteria guiding these decisions.”
The remaining £11.5 million from the government’s total allocation is capital funding through April 2030, typically dedicated to significant infrastructure projects like Taunton’s new transport hub and a similar rural hub planned for Langport.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, welcomed the multi-year funding commitment. “Having a confirmed government settlement over several years is crucial for improving local bus services,” said Wilkins. “We are currently assessing how to best allocate these sums and will provide updates to members in due course.”