Community plans to run rural buses

Dorset County Council agreed to withdraw funding for a number of rural bus services as it seeks to save £1.5million in the next two years.

A review of community bus provision is set as a priority project in the new Bridport and West Bay Town Plan.

County councillor Ros Kayes has agreed that £1,000 of her divisional budget should be used to support the feasibility work.

Speaking at last week’s Finance and General Purposes Committee, Bridport town clerk, Bob Gillis, said: “The county council are about to withdraw funding. Some of those bus routes are very well used and there is a need to look at alternatives. The county council do have some funding for community bus schemes. We are also getting the costs to use the county council’s buses.

“Western Area Transport Group (WAYTAG) are also trying to save some services.”

Councillor Kayes has organised two meetings with local stakeholders and county council officers, looking at the options and support for developing plans for local community run services. The meetings have also involved representatives from WAYTAG, Dorset Partnership for Older People Programme, the Bridport Local Area Partnership, the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group and bus companies.

Options for services that could be looked at include using school contract buses and the Dorset fleet buses when they are not in use and also looking at the initial work undertaken by the Neighbourhood Plan Transport Group. The group discussed the idea of using possible Hoppa routes that would serve the Bridport area and link with the main core services - the X51/X53.

It was agreed that a working party should be established to look at the feasibility of providing such services. Dorset County Council has some funding to support community transport but there are other potential funding avenues.

The meeting also discussed the impact of the imminent withdrawal of funding from existing once a week bus services, particularly routes 42 and 76.