WECA Mayor Dan Norris will be receiving an invitation to come to

Radstock – responding to the transport consultation on what to do with £540 million to improve the A37/A367 corridor, Radstock’s Mayor, Rupert Bevan, said whilst he welcomed extra public transport, he was unconvinced that local areas outside of Bath or Bristol would benefit.

Cllr Chris Dando proposed a visit by the Metro Mayor. Speaking about the recent publicity surrounding the retention of the 178 bus service he said: “Yes, the 178 might be saved, but it’s not a particularly good service and it takes about a week to get from Radstock to Bristol.

“How will this money improve services locally? However you seek to improve there are practical and geographical issues.

“By asking the Metro Mayor to visit, perhaps we can identify practical steps or generate useful suggestions.”

Standing orders were suspended to allow Westfield Ward Councillor and Radstock resident, Eleanor Jackson, time to speak. She said: “We need regular, reliable bus services – after all, we are supposed to be getting out of our cars and using buses more.

“At one stage, Radco were prepared to give up land to make a bigger roundabout, with more lanes to free up the traffic bottleneck in Radstock.”

Councillor Bruce Shearn recalled plans over thirty years ago when Odd Down Park & Ride was first proposed, alongside two smaller Park and Rides in Clandown and Peasedown St John to help with out-commuting. He argued that schemes such as this would really put WECA money to use.

Cllr Adrian Dodgson argued that it was all very well improving the area with Park & Rides, but that people needed a reason to stay in the area. He said: “The danger, I feel, is that it would suck more life out of Radstock. People would not think of stopping there any more, they would bypass Peasedown, even, and go straight to Bath.

Cllr Chris Dando replied that this was currently already happening with people parking on the outskirts of town to catch buses and that work should be done as part of Radstock’s Neighbourhood Plan to put the town on the map as somewhere to stop and spend time in.

He said: “In the short term, we will be an out-commuting community. We need to reflect on the reality that the

pandemic has changed work for a lot of people.

“Everything needs to be recast in that light, as we are in a slightly different space now.”