THREATS to the Dulverton and Wiveliscombe No 25 bus to Taunton saw the largest protest rally in the area for many years on Saturday (February 17).

The Square, in Wiveliscombe, was jammed with more than 100 Somerset Bus Partnership protesters and other residents worried about the future of their bus service.

Protesters arriving in Wiveliscombe on the No 25 bus they are trying to save.Somerset Cllr Dave Mansell, who is fighting cuts to the No 25 bus route.Saturday's bus cuts protest rally was one of the largest seen in Wiveliscombe for many years.More than 100 people attended the Wiveliscombe bus cuts protest.David Northey, of the Somerset Bus Partnership, which organised Saturday's rally in Wiveliscombe.Somerset Bus Partnership has been collecting a petition against cuts to bus services such as the No 25 which serves Wiveliscombe and Dulverton.Anti-bus cuts protesters gather in North Street, Wiveliscombe.The No 25 Taunton via Wiveliscombe and Bampton to Dulverton bus makes its way past protesters on Saturday.Somerset Bus Partnership co-chairman David Northey (right) with a bus-themed red post box topping in Wiveliscombe.Cuts proposed to the No 25 bus service would reduce it to running every three hours and cut out Langley Marsh altogether.

Protesters arriving in Wiveliscombe on the No 25 bus they are trying to save.

Somerset Cllr Dave Mansell, who is fighting cuts to the No 25 bus route.

Saturday's bus cuts protest rally was one of the largest seen in Wiveliscombe for many years.

More than 100 people attended the Wiveliscombe bus cuts protest.

David Northey, of the Somerset Bus Partnership, which organised Saturday's rally in Wiveliscombe.

Somerset Bus Partnership has been collecting a petition against cuts to bus services such as the No 25 which serves Wiveliscombe and Dulverton.

Anti-bus cuts protesters gather in North Street, Wiveliscombe.

The No 25 Taunton via Wiveliscombe and Bampton to Dulverton bus makes its way past protesters on Saturday.

Somerset Bus Partnership co-chairman David Northey (right) with a bus-themed red post box topping in Wiveliscombe.

Cuts proposed to the No 25 bus service would reduce it to running every three hours and cut out Langley Marsh altogether.

Some moved on afterwards to Dulverton to rally support from the people of Exmoor.

First Bus South wants to further cut the already-reduced Dulverton-Wiveliscombe-Taunton route unless Somerset Council continues with subsidies from April.

Some of the Wiveliscombe protesters arrived on the No 25 bus from Taunton, carrying placards and banners calling on the council and the company to save the service, as well supporting three other under-threat buses – the No 28 Minehead to Taunton route and two serving South Somerset.

Some protesters arrived in Wiveliscombe on the No 25 bus, which is facing reductions in its timetable.
Some protesters arrived in Wiveliscombe on the No 25 bus, which is facing reductions in its timetable. (Alain Lockyer)

Partnership co-chairman Peter Travis said: “The 25 bus is a vital link for the market towns and rural villages of much of West Somerset.

“This bus service enables access to job and educational opportunities in Taunton as well as to health services, shopping, entertainment, and bus, coach, and train connections.

“It was good to see so many people from Wiveliscombe and nearby coming together to demand their bus services are saved from any further cuts.”

The Wiveliscombe rally followed a similar protest held in Yeovil the previous weekend.

Saturday's rally in Wiveliscombe against bus service cuts was the largest protest the town had seen for years.
Saturday's rally in Wiveliscombe against bus service cuts was the largest protest the town had seen for years. (Alain Lockyer)

The partnership will also be rallying its supporters to travel to Bridgwater, on Tuesday (February 20) when Somerset councillors meet to agree their 2024-25 budget.

Local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who has been campaigning to protect both the No 25 and 28 routes, met First Bus managing director Simon Goff on Friday for talks which he said were ‘productive’.

Mr Liddell-Grainger could not pre-empt events which were taking place this week but he was optimistic there would be some ‘good news before the end of the week’.

Somerset Cllr Dave Mansell, who attended the rally, said: “We sent a strong message that our services are important and need to be supported.

“No decisions have been taken yet and there is still hope while negotiations between the council and First Bus continue.”