Ten years after it was withdrawn, a much loved and badly missed bus service is back, serving rural communities between Wiveliscombe and Wellington and now extending to also provide a link between West Buckland and Wellington.

On Tuesday 22 April, members of the Wivey–Welly Bus User Group and Somerset Bus Partnership joined other passengers on the first morning of the new service, the no.27. The bus connects several towns and villages, some of which have very little in the way of shops or amenities. The driver reported it had been a busy morning with passengers getting on and off at stops along the route.

Several passengers were enthusiastic about the opportunity to restart outings and activities they had enjoyed in the past. Others were excited about the new opportunities the service would offer them – for shopping, medical appointments, making trips to the garden centre or Wellington Sports Centre, or simply making it easier to connect with opportunities for onward regional and national travel.
The 27 bus, operated by Somerset Council, runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays (see timetable below).

A spokesperson for the Wivey–Welly Bus User Group said: “We warmly welcome the return of this service and wish to encourage passengers to make use of it and help to ensure that it becomes permanent following the current trial period.”

Timetables have been put up in bus stops and shops around the town by the Wivey to Welly Bus User Group. This video of the service being enjoyed by passengers is a fun watch. There is more information about bus services generally on the transport page.