THE Weymouth park and ride service will be closed this winter as the county council moves to make the troubled service break even.

The Mount Pleasant site will be closed from October 1 and staff and buses deployed elsewhere.

In May, the Dorset Echo reported that the service is losing the equivalent of £450 per day and operating at a loss of thousands of pounds.

Despite 42 return trips a day and more on event days and ‘peak’ days, the facility was only at full capacity once during 2014- Weymouth Carnival day.

But councillors decided at the time to delay making a firm decision on the future of the site.

A county council spokesperson said it has not yet been confirmed how much money closing the service during winter will save.

The park and ride is expected to re-open on April 1.

Cllr Peter Finney, the council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We are having a close look at the finances and it seems sensible to close it when it is not being used and costing a lot of money. In the summer it pays its way and until we develop a plan in conjunction with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) as to how we manage it long-term, we need to look at how we can make it break even.”

The decision to close the park and ride over winter was taken by Cllr Finney and the service director.

Councillors have already agreed to leave the park and ride model as it is until May 2017.

The decision to close the service over the winter does not affect that.

Cllr Finney added that winter closure will be something the council considers in years to come ‘unless there’s an alternative solution or there’s a pressing need to keep it open.”

The move has been welcomed in Weymouth.

Cllr Ian Bruce, who has made calls previously for the county council to look at the finances of the park and ride, said it is a ‘wise decision’.

He added that the service had been underused, despite being ‘well-equipped’.

“The park and ride was one of those things decided by politicians and government officials, and unless it’s designed for what people want and need, it will fall by the wayside.

“It’s a bit like being King Canute. You can provide people with things but if it’s not working, you need to listen to that.”

The drivers and buses will be used in other parts of the county council, helping fulfil duties in the adult care service.

And season tickets holders have already been informed and given an alternative for the duration of their pass.

The site will be made secure with signs, lighting and CCTV all being changed where appropriate. The site will still collect energy from solar power so will create revenue for the council all year round.