What town/village/parish do you live in?

Drayton

What are the biggest transport challenges in your area?

• Access (availability of transport options)

• Reliability

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

No village route. Need to walk a mile to access routes. Times have reduced between buses from 1 hour to now 2 hours. No buses after 6pm.

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

Nothing

What ideas do you have to improve transport and/or address the challenges you've outlined?

On demand services could delivered using small, targeted buses or large taxi-type vehicles. Technology suggests this very possible with sophisticated computer-based logistics.

The council has a limited amount of money to spend on transport, how would you allocate it?

What transport topic(s) are you interested in knowing more about?

• Decarbonisation

• Public transport

• Local transport plans

Have you been involved in an engagement effort before?

Yes

What makes you feel like your input has been valued during engagement?

Development of the village community plan

Do you prefer in-person or virtual engagement?

3

Have you ever participated in a focus group, and would you do so again?

I have participated in a focus group before, and would do so again

Are you likely to participate in an engagement effort if there is an incentive (voucher, prizes, money etc) offered?

1

What town/village/parish do you live in?

cossington

What are the biggest transport challenges in your area?

• Access (availability of transport options)

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

We travel regularly between Cossington & Street as we are both members of different clubs there with activities during the day and evenings so sometimes we have to take our own cars to Street which is crazy and not contributing at all to Net0. An evening service to /from Street would be extremely beneficial in may ways not only to serve the clubs that we attend but also for when we visit restaurants & pubs. Many more people in the Polden villages would also use an evening service as there are no taxis in the villages. Thank you

In terms of transport, what do you think is working well in your area?

• Cost

• Reliability

• Safety

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

Very impressed with the daytime services , drivers & punctuality

What ideas do you have to improve transport and/or address the challenges you've outlined?

Provide an evening service

The council has a limited amount of money to spend on transport, how would you allocate it?

What transport topic(s) are you interested in knowing more about?

• Local transport plans

• Public transport

Have you been involved in an engagement effort before?

Yes

What makes you feel like your input has been valued during engagement?

I don't. I left the call after 35 mins , quite distraught that valuable council time, resource and funds were spent (and had been spent in the amount of research that had clearly been carried out) with the aim of deciding on a new logo with just a handful of the members of the public who could be bothered to dial in on the night. Lengthy discussions were had on the culture behind the different logos,; what they represented and what the council members considered the general public would think of them. A very , very disappointing allocation of vital council funds in my opinion.

Do you prefer in-person or virtual engagement?

3

Have you ever participated in a focus group, and would you do so again?

I have participated in a focus group before, and would do so again

Are you likely to participate in an engagement effort if there is an incentive (voucher, prizes, money etc) offered?

1

What town/village/parish do you live in?

Curry Rivel

What are the biggest transport challenges in your area?

• Access (availability of transport options)

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

As there is already a train line running through the area, it would be extremely useful to have a train station near Langport. The option to use trains for commuting for work and social travel is important these days, considering car use is being threatened.

In terms of transport, what do you think is working well in your area?

• Cost

• Accessibility (ability to use transport options)

The council has a limited amount of money to spend on transport, how would you allocate it?

What transport topic(s) are you interested in knowing more about?

• Public transport

Have you been involved in an engagement effort before?

No

Do you prefer in-person or virtual engagement?

3

Have you ever participated in a focus group, and would you do so again?

I have not participated in a focus group before, but would like to do so

Are you likely to participate in an engagement effort if there is an incentive (voucher, prizes, money etc) offered?

5

What town/village/parish do you live in?

Watchet

What are the biggest transport challenges in your area?

• Cost

• Access (availability of transport options)

• Reliability

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

There is a very poor bus service from Minehead to Bridgwater. For example, there is only one bus in the morning to take children to school/college and those who do not have morning lessons have to waste all morning for this reason. Any pupil who misses their bus has to also miss a school day, unless a helpful adult with a car can assist. Similarly, when lessons end early, pupils are marooned in Bridgwater until the only afternoon bus leaves. Although there have been significant improvements in the bus service to/from Minehead (and surrounding towns/villages), the bus service is still unreliable. Regular travellers arrive at the bus stop in time for an earlier-than-required bus, just in case, as quite often happens, the most suitable bus doesn't turn up, or turns up very late.

In terms of transport, what do you think is working well in your area?

• Journey times

• Safety

What ideas do you have to improve transport and/or address the challenges you've outlined?

1. Better Minehead to Bridgwater bus service. Improve reliability. 2. Use smaller buses/minibuses for less popular services and save money! 3. Build a shared cycleway and pedestrian path immediately beside West Somerset Railway. This could provide an alternative method of transport to residents close to the line - walking, cycling, using mobility vehicles. It would also provide a new tourist magnet, improving the local economy.

The council has a limited amount of money to spend on transport, how would you allocate it?

What transport topic(s) are you interested in knowing more about?

• Local transport plans

• Decarbonisation

• Public transport

• Active travel (walking and wheeling)

Have you been involved in an engagement effort before?

No

What makes you feel like your input has been valued during engagement?

An email/message acknowledging input.

Do you prefer in-person or virtual engagement?

4

If you prefer one over the other, why is that?

Easier tie management

Have you ever participated in a focus group, and would you do so again?

I have not participated in a focus group before, but would like to do so

Are you likely to participate in an engagement effort if there is an incentive (voucher, prizes, money etc) offered?

3

What town/village/parish do you live in?

Highbridge

What are the biggest transport challenges in your area?

• Journey times

• Reliability

• Accessibility (ability to use transport options)

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

I work in Taunton and can catch a bus to work but not back from it as they don't run late enough. When the trains aren't running for engineering works or strikes, I have to cycle back from work. As buses don't take bikes, I have to cycle to work to ensure I can cycle back. That's 35 miles a day taking the most direct (but unsafe) route along the A38. It's exhausting and dangerous. Buses taking bikes would make a big difference in my opinion, as would later running services.

In terms of transport, what do you think is working well in your area?

• Cost

• Safety

Any comments on your selection(s) above?

I have never felt unsafe on a service and the cost is still favourable to driving - especially on the buses which is great. The train is a bit lower than driving but I currently use a young person's railcard so it will soon be pricier than driving, which I don't want to do for the environmental reasons but I can't afford to spend more money than I need to.

What ideas do you have to improve transport and/or address the challenges you've outlined?

Buses and trains need to be fitted with much much better bike accessibility. Push bikes and ebikes combined with public transport is clearly the way forwards for pollution and cost. In a rural area often the stops are not near the destination so more people would feel comfortable doing the miles they need to after using public transport if they could take a bike with them. Later services would also mean people left the car as they could reliably get home from social events or work.

The council has a limited amount of money to spend on transport, how would you allocate it?

What transport topic(s) are you interested in knowing more about?

• Active travel (walking and wheeling)

• Local transport plans

• Decarbonisation

• Public transport

• Transport hubs

Have you been involved in an engagement effort before?

No

What makes you feel like your input has been valued during engagement?

Tangible changes being made based on what participants say.

Do you prefer in-person or virtual engagement?

3

Have you ever participated in a focus group, and would you do so again?

I have not participated in a focus group before, but would like to do so

Are you likely to participate in an engagement effort if there is an incentive (voucher, prizes, money etc) offered?

5