Shepton Mallet calls for later buses and direct Bristol link

By Laura Linham 1st Oct 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

Shepton Mallet needs later buses, more Sunday services and a direct Bristol connection, according to a town council report calling for investment in public transport. Published on the council's website in September, the document argues that gaps in provision are limiting residents' access to jobs, education, healthcare and leisure.

The council's Shepton Mallet on the Move report puts extending evening services at the top of its priorities. It also seeks a more frequent Bath service, Sunday connections to Street and better transport for surrounding villages.

The report has been prepared to support an application for investment, for submission to Somerset Council, MP Tessa Munt and transport commissioners. Its proposals are intended to influence spending priorities for 2027/28.

For younger residents, the council argues that transport can determine which opportunities are within reach. It points to Whitstone School having no sixth form, meaning pupils continuing their studies generally need to travel elsewhere.

The report says daytime college transport does not solve the problem of getting home after evening activities or training. It also argues that poorly timed connections can make employment difficult for people whose shifts fall outside normal bus operating hours.

Older residents and people without access to a car face similar difficulties, according to the document. The council says journeys to appointments and community activities need to be considered alongside commuter demand when services are planned.

A comparison with neighbouring Wells forms part of the case for investment. The report highlights Wells' direct Bristol service and bus interchange, arguing that Shepton's weaker connections do not reflect the needs of the town and its surrounding rural communities.

The council is seeking either a direct Shepton–Bristol service or better connections through Wells. It also wants the Glastonbury and Street rail-link bus to serve Pilton and Shepton Mallet on its way to Castle Cary station.

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That would build on the Castle Cary bus route dispute, which left Shepton outside the new service. Campaigners had pressed for a route including the town, nearby villages and the Bath & West Showground.

The wider proposals include a town centre transport hub bringing together bus information, sheltered waiting space, secure cycle parking and community transport. The report suggests a volunteer car scheme and bookable transport could help residents in villages where regular bus routes are difficult to sustain.

The document gives indicative costs for the improvements, while stressing that accurate figures would require Somerset Council's tendering process. It asks the authority and operators to review existing routes and timings so improvements can begin while longer-term network changes are developed.