Somerset County Council is the Local Transport Authority for this area.  Their easy to navigate “Travel Somerset” website provides detailed information about roads across Somerset, including current and future roadworks and helpful information on all modes of local transport including buses, trains, cycling and walking.

Somerset County Council also have a dedicated Twitter account @TravelSomerset for residents who want to keep up to date on roadworks or get road updates on gritting during the winter.

Given the rural nature of the district, during 2019 the Council will be exploring whether there are new and innovative ways to improve community transport for those who do not have their own transport or find it difficult to access public transport. Check back to this page for further updates. 

Useful links to existing community transport organisations: 

South Somerset Community Transport 

A local organisation that provides accessible transport for local people who have no access to public transport because of location or who are unable to us the public transport available due to access problems or disabilities.

01935 477399 (9am-5pm) or email info@communitytransport.org.uk

For more information, visit their website.

South Somerset Community Accessible Transport

Set up to provide transport to the communities of Wincanton, Bruton, Castle Cary and the surrounding villages.  Access to minibus transport and individual car drivers available.

 For further information contact 01963 33864, email us at sscatbus@gmail.com or visit their website.

Crewkerne Voluntary Transport

Group transport for residents of Crewkerne, Merriot, Hinton and surrounding areas. No hospital or medical transport available. 

Phone 01460 271669 (9.30am to 3.30pm) or email lic@crewkerne-tc.gov.uk

Community Transport Association

The CTA is a national membership association which leads and supports community transport to be successful.

For more information, visit their website.

Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Yeovil – Coming soon!

In 2017 the Government published its first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Strategy sets out the Government’s ambition to make walking and cycling the natural choices for shorter journeys or as part of a longer journey.

As a result of the Government Strategy the Local Transport Authority, Somerset County Council will be working with South Somerset District Council to look at a Local Cycle and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Yeovil.

A plan has been created for Yeovil and can be found here: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roads-and-transport-local-cycling-and-walking-infrastructure-plans-lcwips/

In 2022 we have started work on the Chard LCWIP : Information will be made available here as and when.

If you or your organisation is interested in getting involved in the development of this local strategy (or commenting on it) contact us.

National Cycle Routes

The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans. The cycle routes are designed to minimise contacts of cyclists with motorists. For more information visit their website.

South Wessex CRP 

This was formally - The Heart of Wessex Community Rail Partnership is a twenty year old joint venture between seven local authorities (including South Somerset District Council) and the train operator, currently Great Western Railway. 

The core objective of the partnership is to increase awareness and use of the Bristol to Weymouth services, in turn contributing to economic growth, carbon reduction and other key priorities for local authority partners.

From 2003 the partnership gradually transformed into a wider community venture, encouraging participation from local groups, organisations and businesses.  

More information on this can be found here: 

www.southwessexcrp.org.uk

Blackmore Vale Line Community Rail Partnership

The Blackmore Vale Line CRP is a DFT Accredited rail partnership covering the stations and 53km route from Tisbury to Crewkerne, on the West of England Line between London Waterloo and Exeter St. David The area of benefit extends to more than 160 predominately rural settlements served by 11 major regional towns and villages of Tisbury, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Mere, Wincanton, Stalbridge, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Sherborne, Yeovil, Crewkerne and Chard.  Tisbury is the only ’dark skies’ friendly railway station in the UK and is the gateway to Cranborne Chase AONB international dark sky reserve. Sherborne is the ‘jewel in the crown’ the most popular visitor destination.  BVCRP is a partnership made up of local people, station groups, statutory and voluntary groups, and businesses who together promote the area to prospective rail passengers stimulating tourism and the local economy. BVCRP also works to increase community involvement in its award-winning stations and encourages residents and visitors to use the stations for a wide range of journeys. As a keen advocate of “green travel,” BVCRP also encourages onward connectivity by promoting local bus services, and electric car, scooter and bike hire.

Projects range from marketing campaigns and events encouraging potential rail-users to visit the beautiful Blackmore Vale through to publications, Line Guides and a First World War book commemorating the fallen from the towns and villages along the line. Volunteering is at the heart of the rail partnership and celebrating this gives rise to the annual favourites “Community Rail at Christmas” and “Stations in Bloom,” campaigns brimming with friendly inter-station rivalry and fun. This year extended to stations from Salisbury to Exeter, Westbury to Weymouth and those around the Romsey area, BVCRP working in partnership with Devon and Cornwall CRP, East Hampshire CRP and the new South Wessex CRP.   Visit our website for more information at www.blackmorevaletrains.com

National Rail Journey Planner

Plan your journey using the National Rail Journey Planner

Walking is great for not only exercising but also for meeting people in your local area and enjoying our beautiful countryside.

Links to local walks and walking groups:

• Health walks
• Countryside walks

A review of the district car parking strategy will take place during 2019.

Check back to this page for further news on the development of the strategy.