Local Transport Plan 2025/26

Results updated 4 Jun 2026

We asked people across Somerset to share their views on travel and transport. We explained that we were updating Somerset’s Local Transport Plan (LTP), which guides how transport should support health, the environment and the local economy.

We asked for feedback to help us shape a new plan that:

  • Met the needs of all users, now and in the future.
  • Supported different ways of travelling, including walking, wheeling, cycling, public transport, freight and car travel.
  • Delivered wider benefits for health, the environment and the economy.
  • Made the best use of public money.

We also asked people to read the background documents if they wanted more detail.

Who responded

  • We received 398 responses through the online consultation. This included more than 2,000 comments in free‑text questions.
  • We also received:
    • 15 responses from parish councils and Local Community Networks.
    • 11 responses from statutory bodies such as Network Rail and Bus User Groups.

People and organisations who took part included:

  • Members of the public from across Somerset.
  • Parish and town councils.
  • Local Community Networks.
  • Statutory bodies (these are organisations we must consult by law), including transport operators and national agencies.

What you told us

Across all responses, people raised strong and consistent messages about what matters most for transport in Somerset. The most frequent themes included:

Reducing carbon emissions

  • Many people supported reducing carbon emissions from transport.
  • However, a large number felt we needed to do more to cut emissions faster and support greener travel choices.

Better public transport

  • Public transport was a top concern.
  • Over 60% said bus services needed improvement, especially in rural areas.
  • People wanted buses to be more frequent, reliable and affordable.

Walking, wheeling and cycling (active travel)

  • People wanted safer, better‑connected walking and cycling routes.
  • Safety concerns were raised in many comments, especially for rural roads.

Rural transport and fairness

  • Rural communities felt less well served.
  • Respondents asked for fairer access to transport, including better links between villages, towns and key services.

Electric vehicles (EVs)

  • Only 14% of respondents owned an electric vehicle.
  • People said cost, charging points and environmental concerns made switching harder.

Infrastructure and planning

  • People wanted roads to be better maintained.
  • Many also requested clearer planning for transport improvements and better coordination across the county.

Tailored, local solutions

  • 77% supported the LTP’s place‑based approach (designing transport solutions to suit different types of places).
  • Respondents said “one size fits all” does not work for Somerset.

Feedback from parish councils and statutory organisations

Feedback included:

  • Calls for clearer links between the LTP and local plans, neighbourhood plans and town‑level movement strategies.
  • Requests for more detail on how we will deliver improvements and how responsibilities and funding will work.
  • Highlighting gaps such as missing active travel measures, freight and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) strategies, or town‑specific needs.

Overall level of support

  • The overall feeling across responses was positive and supportive of the direction of the draft LTP.
  • Many respondents agreed with the vision and supported a shift towards more sustainable, fair and connected transport across Somerset.
  • People also asked for clearer detail on how changes will be delivered locally.

Links to related documents

You can read the background documents here:

Closed 28 Sep 2025

Opened 7 Jul 2025

Contact

transportpolicy@somerset.gov.uk

Overview

Somerset’s Local Transport Plan – Have Your Say

We’re updating Somerset’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) and we want to hear from you.

We are consulting on the Local Transport Plan, the Decide and Provide Guidance and the Travel Guidance. (If you wish to download any of the relevant documents please scroll down to the bottom of this page).

The LTP is a key document that sets out how we plan and deliver transport across Somerset. It helps ensure that transport supports our wider goals—like improving health and wellbeing, protecting the environment, and supporting the local economy.

Our current plan is out of date and doesn’t reflect national policy or the challenges we face today. That’s why we’re creating a new plan that will guide how people and goods move around Somerset in the years ahead.

Your browser does not support inline PDF viewing. Please download the PDF.


We want your views on what matters most when it comes to travel and transport in Somerset.

Your feedback will help shape a plan that:

  • Meets the needs of all users—now and in the future
  • Supports a range of travel choices, including walking, wheeling, cycling, public transport, freight and car travel
  • Delivers wider benefits for public health, the environment and the economy
  • Makes the best use of public money

Whether you live, work or travel in Somerset, your voice matters. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts.