Young people will be deprived of their education, patients will be unable to make hospital appointments and commuters will unable to get to work should controversial cuts to bus services go ahead, it is feared.

Dorset County Council (DCC) has revised its arrangements for Service 40 (Bridport – Yeovil), operated by First, and changes are due to come into force on Monday when First's Buses of Somerset will run the service on a different timetable.

Journeys removed from the timetable are:

• 07.30 Bridport to Yeovil

• 14.20 Yeovil to Bridport

• 15.40 Bridport to Yeovil

• 17.15 Yeovil to Bridport.

A new 16.35 from Yeovil to Beaminster will come into play but will be too early for some workers and college students, campaigners say. Bridport bound passengers will also have to change at Beaminster.

Parent Angie Follett, who lives in Beaminster, is concerned her 16-year-old son will no longer be able to get to Yeovil College.

“We were not given a letter,” she said. “We only bought a bus pass four weeks ago and nobody said anything when they must have known a long time ago. Both me and my son are worried about this. He’s taken time to settle in to college and has a very good tutor – for this to happen is a big blow. If we’d known sooner, we would have looked at other colleges. If this isn’t sorted, he won’t be able to go and we can’t have him miss college.

“They have to stay in education until they’re 18 so something needs to be provided for them.”

Paula Reeder, from Broadwindsor, echoed Ms Follett’s concerns.

“My son says it’s standing room only on that bus,” she said. “They can’t say it isn’t needed. I have friends who get to work on that bus – how will they get there? We’re looking for answers and just keep getting passed around. “Nobody knows anything about what’s happening. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

John Evans, principal of Yeovil College, is ‘extremely concerned’ by the cuts and says it is ‘sad’ students could be denied the chance to attend college.

“We are very aware of this problem and extremely concerned as we have about 20-30 students on that bus coming to Yeovil first thing in the morning,” said Mr Evans. “DCC has pulled the bus that gets in before 8.30am. The impact of the loss of this service will be significant.

“Last year we subsidised the bus in order to keep it going. However, this year we weren’t even asked for any support. Further Education Colleges do not get a budget [for transport] and therefore, any money used to subsidise the bus would have to come out of the teaching budget. I do think it is that important to keep the bus going.

“The Government mandate is for students to remain in education until they’re 18 and so DCC has an obligation to provide transport. We have become the most successful college in the South West – why wouldn’t you want to get on a bus and come to us? To be denied that chance is sad.

“I don’t know what more we can do. We feel powerless for these young people.”

Mr Evans, along with parents, has contacted West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin in a bid to save the service.

Mr Letwin says it is a ‘real problem.’

“I am trying to find a solution that will enable various parties to provide a sustainable solution,” he said. “I hope we can get something together rapidly.”

The new timetable applies Mondays – Fridays, with the CB3 Beaminster community bus continuing to operate on Saturdays.

The West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) says it’s working behind the scenes to see what may be possible.

If people are forced into alternatives, such as car shares, they claim it will ‘further undermine’ the future viability of the buses.

If people have to resign from their jobs, as they can no longer reach them, it will have a negative effect on the local economy, according to the group, leading to greater social isolation.

“If students are unable to access their courses, their future careers may be affected,” said chairman Philip Sankey.

“Overall, we feel that these changes are short-sighted and will be to the detriment of the local communities so poorly served.”

The News has contacted DCC and First Bus for comment.