Ditcheat Parish residents staged a photocall on Friday 21st October 10.20 am, at Ditcheat Bus Stop, Alhampton Road, Ditcheat, their local bus stop, to meet the 10.29 am. Southwest Coaches No 1 (Shepton Mallet- Yeovil) bus service to welcome and celebrate their local bus service in support of the Somerset's 'Catch the Bus Campaign'.

Campaigners sported 'giant hands' and a range of posters supporting 'Catch the bus' campaign. Campaigners not only wanted to ensure that existing bus services are maintained, but also seek more frequent services with better local funding.

The Chair of Ditcheat Parish Council, Charles Evans said "The maintenance of a local bus service through Ditcheat is vital for many people both young and old. In these days of rising coasts, using the bus is a very economical and stress-free way of getting about, and for older people who use a bus pass, it is even better. However, to keep buses available, they need to be used."

Public transport is also a vital link to the nearby railway station at Castle Cary from where many depart for longer distance commuting. The car park is often full, so going by bus makes sense. Local people have also been campaigning for the bus to go into the station to serve passengers. It currently only stops on the A road outside the station, which is not safe or accessible.

Despite being a rural county, bus journeys per head in Somerset fell by 43% in the decade prior to the start of Covid. This is the steepest decline in the country. We have the second lowest bus journeys per head in the country. As services decline so does use, one key reason is that spending on buses in Somerset is again one of the lowest in the country at just £5.14 per head. Transport, with our many commuter villages, is also the major carbon polluter in this area. This in a county where future flooding from sea level rise is predicted.

Ditcheat's Somerset Catch the Bus Campaign's local representative Roger James is delighted that Southwest Coaches Schools & Services Manager, Ian Cook came along. "We all want our bus services to thrive and support the companies providing the service" says Roger.