THE future of the underused park and ride in Weymouth is uncertain as negotiations continue surrounding the loss-making service.

Dorset County Council says it is “revising the operation” but would not say when it would reopen again, after it failed to reopen for the season on Friday as planned.

The council closed the 1,000 capacity Mount Pleasant site for the winter last October as part of a move to save money and make the service break even.

An investigation by the Dorset Echo last year revealed the service was losing the equivalent of £450 per day and operating at a loss of thousands of pounds.

The council’s own figures show the average number of vehicles per day at the site varied from 105 in April last year to 298 in August. In 2014 there were 120 in April and 286 in August.

It is understood Weymouth Football Club is investigating a new home for the Terras next to the park and ride site. The Echo understands a site for the 5,000-capacity community stadium and associated facilities is being looked at between Weymouth Rugby Club and the park and ride’s overflow car park. The club has not confirmed this.

When asked about the park and ride site’s future, a spokesman for Dorset County Council said work was taking place on a “revised operation that will incorporate the park and ride service into the current public transport system” in preparation for this summer.

The site at Mount Pleasant will be retained, it said.

The spokesman added: “Full year operation of the park and ride was found to be inefficient as, during times of low demand, the park and ride did not meet the aims of traffic management by reducing the overall number of vehicles accessing the town.

“We have been working with the commercial operator to develop a solution which reduces the overall cost for the council and improves the options for park and ride users. The council is committed to providing a site which removes traffic from local roads at peak periods and which provides value to the taxpayer.”

David Mannings, county councillor for Lodmoor, said that “discussions are taking place”, but would make no further comment with regards to the future of the site.

Ian Bruce, chairman of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s Management Committee, said: “Last year, we had conversations with DCC saying it was not the best use of public money to provide a park and ride that is so little used. We should look at a new model for how it might be best used and work to a more sustainable strategy.”

He added: “I am not a fan of a park and ride that people don’t use which costs a lot of money.

“If there is a bus coming with less people than in a car, you are just adding to congestion and pollution.”