The delivery of a rural transport hub in Langport will be completed in the new year to avoid clashing with the town's annual Christmas market.
As part of its bus service improvements plan (BSIP), Somerset Council has pledged to deliver a number of transport hubs across Somerset, creating greater integration between bus services and other forms of transportation.
Construction is currently under way on the Taunton hub, on the former bus station site on Tower Street, funded by £3.2m of central government grants - with work expected to conclude some time in 2027.
The council confirmed in June that it would shortly begin work to deliver a corresponding hub in Langport, indicating that it would be up and running by the festive period.
But following further consultation with Langport Town Council, Somerset Council has pushed back the completion date to early-2027 to allow the Christmas market to go ahead with minimal disruption.
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The rural transport hub was originally earmarked for Somerton town centre, with £510,000 of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) being set aside.
However, the council confirmed in February 2025 that the chosen location in Somerton was "unworkable", largely due to the "severe restrictions" on building within a conservation area and the site's close proximity to a scheduled monument.
The new home will see new bus stops created on Parrett Close near the One Stop store, with all but one of the existing disabled parking spaces being relocated closer to the town's library.
The hub will be located near the large free Cocklemoor car park, which provides access to the eponymous public open space and the River Parrett Trail, which runs along the length of the eponymous river from its source near Cheddington in Dorset to the Bristol Channel near Burnham-on-Sea.
The new hub will be served by a number of local bus services, including the 54 between Taunton and Yeovil (via Somerton and Ilchester), the 16 between Langport and Bridgwater (via Othery and Westonzoyland) and the demand responsive Slinky service.
An update on the designs and delivery schedule was published before the council's bus advisory board met virtually on October 13.
A spokesperson said: "We have had ongoing positive engagement with Langport Town Council, which has had detailed input into the design works.
"The project will be delivered in three phases, with phases one and two planned for delivery before December 5 and phase three being delivered in January 27.
"This takes account of the Christmas markets and the contractors' Christmas stand-down.
"We have engaged with Somerset Art Works and have commissioned some public art works for the hub."
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