COUNCILLORS have agreed to withdraw funding for a number of rural bus services as they seek to save £1.5million over the next two years.

At a meeting of Dorset County Council's cabinet, a recommendation was approved to remove the council's subsidies from once or twice weekly rural services.

The decision was made despite impassioned pleas by some councillors on behalf of their local communities, who described the services as a "lifeline".

Cllr Ros Kayes said she had received a letter from a woman in Mosterton who wrote: "The people who make these decisions don't use the bus, there are a lot of people out there who look forward to going on the bus once a week."

Cllr Deborah Croney said that for many isolated people in rural communities the bus journey into their local market town once a week was their only trip out.

Cllr Berryl Ezzard said: "It's a lifeline to rural communities."

Cllr David Harris pleaded for more time to be given to coming up with community alternatives for those people losing their bus services.

Cabinet member for environment Cllr Peter Finney said providing a suitable alternative through community transport options was key to what the council was trying to do.

He said: "The rural bus services as they are at the moment are really not fit for purpose."

Cabinet member for communities, health and wellbeing Rebecca Knox said that engaging with local communities to find out exactly what their particular needs are was crucial.

She said: "There is an urgent discussion to be had with communities."

Cllr Knox added: "There is nothing more powerful than actually being out there and listening to people and what their wishes are."

Council leader Robert Gould insisted that the authority was simply trying to provide the best service it can to rural communities in the light of its financial situation.

He said: "We are taking a very thoughtful, considered approach in how we can achieve a better outcome for people in a climate where we simply don't have the finances."

Cabinet member for corporate development Robin Cook admitted he had reservations prior to the meeting but he was reassured by the commitments made to providing suitable community transport schemes.

He said: "We will be offering something better than what we have got now.

"I'm encouraged by what I have heard."

The proposals approved by the cabinet will also see the X12 route modified to remove the Blandford to Salisbury service.

Before the recommendations were agreed there was a note of warning from Cllr Jill Haynes, who stressed that next year the council will be faced with even harder decisions regarding rural bus services as it has to save £1million compared to the £500,000 it is cutting from the budget in the coming financial year.

She urged the authority to start taking steps now to flag up any issues as soon as possible.