A MAJOR shake-up of the bus network in Weymouth and Portland takes place from Sunday.

First Hampshire and Dorset is making changes to improve the punctuality and reliability of services and to better match resources against the demand.

There will be more buses on some routes and some evening journeys restored.

But the changes announced last month sparked fury and led to protests when it was revealed buses were being axed in Southill and Sutton Poyntz.

Discussions involving Dorset County Council, South Dorset MP Richard Drax and local councillors however have led to these routes being saved, or being continued by another operator.

The 4B to Sutton Poyntz will run hourly on a temporary basis and whether it continues in the future is subject to work being carried out in the next four months to address traffic issues in the village.

Service 4 will no longer serve Oakbury Drive.

Borough councillor Ian Bruce has been given assurances that the new bus stop for Service 4 at the King’s Statue (K5) will have a shelter added.

He said work had started on it and it is promised to be fully operational by April.

Service 5 to Southill is being scrapped but the estate will be served by South West Coaches running three return journeys a day in a new link between Weymouth town and Morrisons supermarket.

Bus operator Damory also confirmed plans to divert its Bridport to Weymouth service and change timetables to ensure that residents of Southill are not stranded. The Echo revealed last week that the change of route was made in partnership with Dorset County Council. The revised service will operate via Radipole Lane to Southill, then Field Barn Drive, The Rise, Chafeys Avenue, Field Barn Drive, Goldcroft Road and Newstead Road. The revised route will still provide key links from the area to Asda.

Simon Newport, Operations Manager at Damory, says that he is pleased to be able to re-route their 253 Bridport to Weymouth service from Monday which currently operates direct to Weymouth via Chickerell Road and Abbotsbury Road.”

Special meeting to help worried residents

A meeting is being held in the Emmanuel church hall at Southill on Saturday at 10am where residents can find more information about the changes to Southill services. County councillor David Harris, who led a protest against bus changes, is organising the meeting.

Other big changes are that Portland buses from Weymouth will no longer start from the back of Debenhams and travel via the Town Bridge and instead start from the King’s Statue and run down King Street.

First said this change was being made for two reasons – to alleviate problems caused by the Town Bridge opening, and provide a better interchange at the Statue.

First is pulling its Service 6 out of Wyke Road, there will no longer be any through buses from Portland to Dorchester and the X10 to Dorchester will travel via Broadwey and Upwey.

Regional Network Manager for First Simon Ford said: “The alterations are largely designed to improve the local bus service however at the same time we are also making a handful of changes to some other routes.

“We understand that the latter will be unpopular, but unfortunately we have no choice.

“There are many positive changes being made though.”

He added: “The new timetables for all the affected services will be uploaded to our website with hard copy versions available from selected tourist and travel information centres.” Passengers are advised to check the new timetable for changes.

The changes affect Service 1, 2, 3/3A, 4/4B, 5/5A, 6, 8, 10/X10, 31, 47, 502, 503 and X53/X54.