Somerset Council has won Department for Transport funding to commission a pre‑feasibility assessment that will test whether bus franchising could provide better outcomes for passengers than current arrangements.
What the study will examine
The work will look at a range of franchising models recently enabled by changes in legislation and national guidance. If adopted, a franchised system would see the council award exclusive contracts to private operators and take direct control over core elements of the network, including routes, timetables, fares and minimum service standards.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Highways and Transport, described the study as an opportunity to scrutinise options carefully and gauge whether franchising could outperform existing approaches such as Enhanced Partnership arrangements and targeted support delivered under the county’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
“This is about unpacking all the options and seeing what could work in Somerset to deliver improved bus services,”
The council says the assessment will gather evidence to inform future decisions on how best to deliver a reliable and effective bus network for communities across the county. The work will involve engagement with local stakeholders to identify current shortcomings and potential improvements.
Local impact and areas targeted
Although the funding covers Somerset as a whole, the announcement specifically references areas already benefiting from enhanced partnership measures such as Burnham‑on‑Sea, Highbridge, Huntspill, Brean and Berrow. The study will consider whether franchising could improve:
- reliability and punctuality of services
- coverage for rural and peripheral communities
- value for money for passengers and the public purse
Officials say they will work with bus user groups, operators and other local partners to build an evidence base before any decision is taken.
| Issue examined | What it could change |
|---|---|
| Routes and timetables | Council control over network design |
| Fares | Potential for standardised or zoned fares |
| Service standards | Contractual requirements for performance |
Next steps and what residents should expect
The pre‑feasibility stage is not a decision to franchise but a detailed appraisal of whether franchising is workable and beneficial in the Somerset context. That means further consultation and analysis will follow before any formal proposals are put to councillors or to the public.
For passengers, immediate change is unlikely while the study is under way. However, the process opens the door to more substantive reform if the evidence points that way — including the possibility of revised contracts, different fare structures or altered service patterns in future years.
Residents who want to engage with the council’s work on local transport should look out for consultation updates from Somerset Council and local bus user groups as the study progresses.
