COUNCILLORS rejected a call to debate bus cuts despite a protest.

Residents had gathered on the steps outside County Hall to voice their anger at a reduction in 'lifeline' bus services before a Dorset County Council meeting.

Watch a video of the campaigners:

They had hoped councillors would debate the issues surrounding First's X31 service from Axminster to Dorchester, and consider subsidising the route.

A motion by county councillor Ros Kayes was rejected due to a 'constitutional issue' and it's now set to be discussed by the Environment Overview committee in January.

Speaking at the meeting, leader of DCC Cllr Spencer Flower said issues regarding buses had been a “key issue” identified during the county council's Ask Dorset consultation.

Because of this, it would be “dealt with in the appropriate way” and the council would go back to the negotiating table with bus companies when the contracts finished in 2016.

There has been particular concern in the community about a reduction in the X31 service.

The 7.15pm bus from Dorchester to Axminster via Bridport is now the last evening bus, despite the 5.30pm train from London Waterloo not arriving in the county town until 8.15pm.

The cuts have also affected villages such as Martinstown which now has only two buses a day.

Speaking at the demonstration, Jon Walker from Martinstown described the bus as a lifeline.

Mr Walker said: “Those people who do not have cars, and have bus passes, have no other way of getting out of the village. We have one bus that leaves at 8.30am and then nothing until another comes in at 5.30pm.

“I know one 88-year-old lady who thumbs a lift out of the village just so she can go and do her shopping.

“Everyone in Martinstown is upset by it, it's a lifeline and I really hope the council subsidises it.

Carer Lee Gerrard, from Bridport, catches the bus two or three times a week to his job in Dorchester.

He said: “The changes basically mean I will have to call on friends and family to try and get someone to take me to work.

“With the winter coming up as well, they might not want to take me really early in the morning or late at night, so I'm going to have to see if anyone will let me stop over.

“If in the long term I can't find a lift or somewhere to stay, I might have to give up my job.”

'Communities are angry'

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Ros Kayes, said: “It is unacceptable the county council should refuse to debate motions that challenge policy making decisions on buses.

“The issue is DCC pay virtually the lowest rate of rebate on concessionary fares in the UK.

“DCC has a responsibility to reimburse bus companies in a way that does not damage their income stream in relation to concessionary tickets. All that is happening is the damage is being passed onto the passengers.

“Communities across Dorset are in uproar about this. The council must step up to the mark on this and pay a fair rebate on concessionary fares.”