Council team ensures vital bus services for communities despite arson attack

Council team ensures vital bus services for communities despite arson attack

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a Somerset Council compound in Taunton which has destroyed four minibuses used for providing transport for vulnerable children and young adults.

The incident happened on Saturday evening, (26 April) in a secure compound at the Silk Mills Park and Ride site in Taunton. The compound was locked and is monitored by CCTV.

Police have confirmed a teenager has been arrested in connection with the incident. Investigations are ongoing.

There were no injuries, but in addition to the four destroyed specialist vehicles worth up to £250,000, three other vehicles were badly damaged.

Despite this, all Park and Ride services ran as normal from the site, and thanks to the dedication and the hard work of the Somerset Council Transport Team 16 SEN college routes, two vulnerable adult bus services and nine community routes operated as normal after drivers pitched in over the weekend to get alternative vehicles to the site ahead of Monday (28 April).

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Housing and Culture said: “This is an appalling incident and we are providing all the help we can to police to assist their ongoing investigation.

“However, I would like to pay tribute to our fantastic transport team. Staff gave up some of their Sunday to make sure we had the extra buses we needed to make sure some of our most vulnerable children and young people had their essential transport services on Monday morning. It was a fantastic effort and we’re really grateful to them.

“We have even been offered the loan of specialised vehicles from two local businesses. At times like this you really do see the best of people in Somerset.”

Avon and Somerset Police have released the following statement:

A teenager has been arrested by officers investigating a fire in Taunton in which seven specially adapted minibuses were destroyed.

We were called by the fire service shortly after 7.50pm on Saturday 26 April reporting the vehicles, which are used by people with disabilities and schoolchildren, were alight at Silk Mills Park and Ride.

No one was injured.

Fire investigators later determined the cause of the fire to be deliberate ignition, and a police investigation began.

The 17-year-old boy, from Taunton, was arrested yesterday (27 April) on suspicion of arson, assault by beating of an emergency worker, and affray. He remains in police custody.

PCSO Supervisor Sam Bushen said: “We know the substantial impact the loss of these vehicles will have on some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“As soon as the incident was first reported, a thorough investigation was launched, and last night’s arrest was a significant milestone in that.”

Despite the loss of the vehicles, Somerset Council’s services continued as normal today.

If you have any information that may help our investigation, call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5225117181 or through our website at https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/forms/sia?Reference=5225117181