RESIDENTS of villages north of Dorchester are fighting to save their threatened bus services.

Parish councils of Cattistock, Maiden Newton, Frampton, Grimstone, Stratton and Bradford Peverell have been informed that South West Coaches will be withdrawing non-school services on the 212 Dorchester to Yeovil route on March 26.

The move has prompted the parishes to organise a petition, which will be delivered to Dorset County Council asking them to support the vital service for residents.

Maiden Newton parish transport representative Sally Falkingham said the changes would mean Cattistock and Bradford Peverell would receive no service on the 212 route.

People from Cattistock wanting to get to school or into Dorchester for work would then have to walk to Maiden Newton to catch the bus.

Mrs Falkingham said: “Our residents, without access to personal transport, are dependent on the buses for employment, shopping, banking, attendance at hospital appointments, surgery appointments at Poundbury, leisure and many other activities.”

The news of the withdrawal of the South West Coaches services north of Dorchester comes just weeks after Damory Coaches announced it was to cease operating its town services in Dorchester and a number of other routes connected to Dorchester.

Mrs Falkingham said petitions had now been put up at shops and pubs in Maiden Newton and Cattistock and they were hoping to present them to Dorset County Council next week.

She said there was concern that the council may be so concerned with finding a solution to cover the Damory services in Dorchester the 212 may be overlooked.

Mrs Falkingham said: “If County Hall doesn’t put any money into the 212 we are going to be in a terrible mess.

“We don’t want to be overlooked when the council makes its decision and find it has put all its money into the Dorchester services and there is nothing for us.”

The loss of the 212 service would also be another blow to Charminster residents, with the number 7 bus from Dorchester among the routes Damory will no longer be providing from April 14.

Parish Council chairman Mark Simons said: “If it were to stop completely it would be another nail in the coffin for parish bus services. But we are hopeful with some of the services the county council will be able to come up with another operator or a revised service.”