Somerset County Council is joining forces with About Community Engagement (ACE), to see how engagement on transport in rural areas can be improved. 

The aim is to make it easier for rural communities to talk the Council about transport and reach solutions that work for everyone. 

The Council is also in the early stages of writing a new Local Transport Plan (LTP), which will set out the strategy for improving and maintaining the transport network across the County.  

Somerset County Council’s Associate Lead Member for Transport and Digital, Cllr Mike Hewitson said: “To understand what works in specific locations, it is vital to get the input from rural communities.  

“People here often feel isolated from services due to poor mobility links so the LTP will identify a package of transport solutions which will work together to improve access across the County. 

“We’d urge people to please have their say on our LTP – you can do this on our Commonplace website.” 

Somerset County Council and ACE are also attending the Watchet Street Fair on Sunday 5 March (10am to 4pm), which is a fantastic opportunity to come and have your say on rural engagement and transport. We have also worked with community leaders in Exmoor to organise a drop-in coffee morning at Dulverton Town Hall on Saturday 4 March (9 to 11am).   

You can find more information and get involved on our Commonplace site Have Your Say Today – Somerset Sustainable Transport – Commonplace. This link allows you to view and respond to survey questions which mirror the engagement being done in-person, as well as read supporting materials which focus on LTPs, active travel, and decarbonisation of transport. 

Your comments will be used to inform the development of our Local Transport Plan, making sure Somerset’s streets are a welcoming place for everyone.