Residents are crying out for better bus services as the council pledges a multimillion-pound investment to improve travel across Dorset.
Travelling between Bridport and Dorchester is a vital journey that many make on a daily basis as the towns are inextricably linked by shared schools, hospitals and other public services.
Last year, major changes to First Bus’s X51 and X53 timetable were announced, which included a four-hour break between services bridging the two towns.
Naturally, residents were left furious, and after consideration the gap was removed after a discussion between the council and the bus operator, however some changes remained.
The West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) launched a survey earlier this year, with Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG), inviting residents to share what would help make life easier when travelling.
Almost 700 people responded to the survey, with over 97 percent of participants saying they wanted more frequent services, ideally hourly throughout the day.
There was also significant support for buses to be extended later into the evening, WATAG has shared.
In the winter, there is an hourly bus service from Axminster and Lyme Regis to Bridport, but there is only one service every two hours directly to Dorchester, Monday to Saturday, with no evening services.
There are no services at all on Sundays from mid-September to mid-May.
The survey results come shortly after Dorset Council has recently approved what it has described as ‘the biggest transport transformation in a generation’, pouring £65m into transport services, creating 700 additional bus journeys across the seven-year plan.
WATAG’s report will make four recommendations based on the factors residents said they wanted most:
Re-introduce an hourly X51 service between Bridport and Dorchester throughout the day.Extend evening services, with the last departures no earlier than 21:00 and consideration of services until 22:00 or later.Improve rail connections at Dorchester South station, particularly for evening arrivals.Investigate the feasibility of Sunday services, while recognising that this survey did not directly assess Sunday demand.
WATAG Chair, Nick Hurrell said: “There is huge public support for more bus services between Bridport and Dorchester – with its County Hospital and two railway stations. We are delighted that Dorset Council has recently announced an increase of £65m on public transport spending and we would expect to see improvements that benefit Bridport and the wider communities throughout West Dorset. Our survey demonstrates very strongly that the demand is there.”
William Gibbons, the bus lead on the Dorchester TAG also said: “This survey initiated by our colleagues in Bridport, demonstrates the over whelming need for an hourly service, buses later in the evening and a regular year-round service on Sundays between Bridport and the County Town of Dorchester”
The full report is available on the WATAG website
Credit: Chloe Boden – Dorset Echo