From the
Bridgwater Mercury:
BUSES may soon be able to provide a regular service for passengers at Bridgwater Railway Station, as “good progress” is being made with proposals to improve the forecourt.
Despite £1.2 million of improvements to the station delivered in 2020, the forecourt layout was deemed impractical for buses of a certain size. The bus shelter has since remained inactive since the improvements.
The improvements at the time aimed "to provide better access to the station and improve the forecourt".
Bus operator, The Buses of Somerset, originally voiced concerns about the space constraints, saying that, during the consultation process for the improvements, it had “clarified that none of its services divert into the station forecourt.”
But improvements are set to be implemented and potentially by the end of the year. A spokesperson for Somerset Council said: “We are working closely with GWR▸ on a proposal and making good progress. Once we have more details of the proposed design, we will be able to determine a delivery timescale.”
It was a view echoed by a council representative at Bridgwater Town Council’s transport forum in early June, who signalled that the issues could be resolved within four months.
Great Western Railway previously confirmed that the turning circle at the forecourt was designed for 8.7 metre buses, with the possibility to accommodate the smaller, shopper-style buses.
Bridgwater’s MP▸ , Sir Ashley Fox, has previously raised the issue in Parliament. Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Ashley said that the bus stop at Bridgwater railway station “has remained unusable since its construction due to road layout and safety issues.”
The nearest bus stop to Bridgwater Train Station is a short three-minute walk away at St. John’s Street.
Click on the map to explore geographics
