A TRANSPORT workers' union (RMT) will be taking part in a rally this weekend to oppose significant reductions to a Somerset bus route.

First South’s bus routes 54 (Yeovil to Taunton), 58 (Yeovil to Wincanton), 25 (Taunton to Wiveliscombe & Dulverton) and 28 (Taunton to Minehead) are under threat of cuts or even cancellation.

Somerset Bus Partnership has organised the rally, which will oppose service reductions on the 25 bus route, for this Saturday (February 17).

The rally will begin in Wiveliscombe Town Square at 11am.

Protesters will arrive on the 9.55am bus from Taunton which stops at Norton, Cotford, Hillcommon and Milverton and arrives in Wiveliscombe at 10.43am.

Attendees will then take the 1.12pm bus to Dulverton.

This will follow a protest that was held in Yeovil last weekend.

Speaking at the Yeovil protest, Peter Travis, co-chair of Somerset Bus Partnership, said: “Our campaigning to protect and improve our bus services in Somerset must and will continue.

"Somerset has some of the worst rated bus services in the country and we deserve and need better."

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "First Bus must heed the calls of the local community and halt the cuts to services that are being proposed.
 
"Deregulation and privatisation lie at the heart of the disintegration of local bus services over the years.
 
"Passengers and bus workers must be prioritised with local authorities being given sufficient ring-fenced funding from the government so they can deliver the bus services their communities require via a publicly owned municipal bus company that also owns its buses and depots.
 
"RMT will continue to support this campaign until decent bus services are provided for the people of Somerset."

A spokesperson from First Bus said: “Somerset Council and Buses of Somerset continue to have positive discussions over the future of the four routes. We’re exploring all opportunities and are now looking at detailed proposals.

“We understand the concerns of the community and we’re working hard to find a way forward. We hope to be able to provide an update as soon as possible.”

As it stands, no final decisions have been made on any of these routes.