Somerset Slinky passengers have come forward to defend the on-demand rural bus service after claims that the organisation of journeys had become a “shambles”. One regular user, a recovering cancer patient, said the service had transformed her ability to travel to Yeovil and other Somerset towns.

Margaret Clarke, 74, lives in Huish Episcopi and uses the Slinky to reach Taunton, Somerton and Yeovil. She has an arthritic hip and said using conventional buses had previously been difficult because of their steps.

“Before, I couldn’t get the bus because if there’s a step, I can’t get on,”

Margaret said travelling to Taunton had once involved getting a bus to Yeovil that she could board before continuing her journey. The Slinky, she said, now provides a direct and more accessible option to a wider range of destinations.

“Then the Slinky comes along and I can go to Taunton, to Langport, to Somerton, even Bridgwater if I wish. It’s marvellous, it’s a lifesaver.”

Passengers say the service keeps people connected

Margaret said many people who use the Slinky had been “more or less housebound” before they could access the service. She acknowledged that some journeys could involve taking a less direct route or spending longer on the bus, but said she valued the opportunity to travel.

“There have been times where you go out of your way a bit, or it takes a bit longer but I enjoy the views from the bus,”

She also praised the people operating the service, including its drivers and the staff who take bookings.

“I’m passionate about it, I won’t hear anything bad about the Slinky, the drivers are wonderful, the ladies in the office who you book with are wonderful.”

Another Somerset passenger, Mary from Butleigh Wootton, said she lived slightly outside the Slinky area but encouraged people to use the service. She highlighted links between Glastonbury, Street and Langport, as well as connections with train services at Castle Cary.

Council says delays are not common

The response follows a report about claims from Slinky user Susan Rose, who feared that the organisation of journeys had been affected by artificial-intelligence route-planning software. Somerset Council, which operates the service, said journeys could sometimes take “longer than expected”, but that problems were not common.

Mary said the service needed to be better known, particularly among people who might benefit from it. She also warned that continued public support was important if the bus network was to remain available.

“No one knows where to go, or what the timetable is,”
“I feel it has been woefully under-advertised.”
“But people need to use the services, or they won’t stay. Bus services are very important to help people get around.”

How to book the Slinky

The Slinky covers Somerton, Sedgemoor, Taunton and Wellington. Passengers can book through the Slinky Somerset smartphone app, online through Somerset Council’s Slinky services page, or by telephone.

The service is being promoted as an option for rural passengers who need to reach towns, local services and onward rail connections, including people who find standard bus access difficult.