In March 2021, the Government launched Bus Back Better, a new National Bus Strategy for England with the key aims of making buses:
- More attractive for passengers
- More affordable
- Easier to understand and use
- Faster and more reliable
- Greener
The Council had submitted a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and bid for funding which aims to revitalise bus services in Dorset. Although the bid was unsuccessful, there will be future funding opportunities which the Council will apply for to deliver the plan.
The BSIP will be refreshed annually, and the Council is launching a survey to seek further input from the public on their priorities for better bus services while understanding that funding is limited. We will also be collecting the views of local businesses, tourism and health service providers, and town and parish councils as well as local transport action groups and other stakeholders.
The key aims of the BSIP are to improve public transport in Dorset by
- promoting better use of the existing network
- introducing simpler and better value fares
- providing an easier to understand ticketing system
- providing better connections within the existing transport network
- improving journey times
- exploring alternatives to traditional bus services to enlarge the current network.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“Despite the lack of funding from the BSIP bid, Dorset Council will continue to seek ways to improve transport in Dorset. This survey will help Dorset Council to refresh the current BSIP with continuing input from stakeholders contributing to plans for the future”
Cllr. Noc Lacey-Clarke, The Cabinet Lead for Environment, Travel and Harbours, said:
“We are keen to understand peoples’ priorities for transport services in Dorset and I would encourage everyone to fill in this survey so that Dorset can develop a high quality transport network.
The closing date is midnight on 11 September
Printed copies are available from Dorset Council Customer Access Points or you can contact Dorset Council Customer Services on 01305 221000 or by emailing customerservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Comments, suggestions, and ideas can be emailed to busbackbetter@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
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If the bus pass holders only used there pass once a day instead its used unlimited. thats what done the damage. At the time I was paying full bus fare. they thought its there right. So put a stipulation on the use of the bus pass
Bus pass users are Disabled and not all OAP and all Passes are bought by the holders . So may be they need to go to appointment and other things like socialise the same as working people Do remember like you we did work and pay full fares in earlier times. Also I paid for a bus pass i am unable to use as i have no service it was taken away from the Wyke end of Gillingham So I now only have the ability to go to town at a cost of Taxis Causing much isolation for many elderly in this area
Difficult to understand this lady’s complaint, because of poor grammar!
I have always used public transport and paid the full fare, until I got my bus pass. I paid willingly what was asked to provide a fair system for older folks to be able to travel. Now it’s my time to reap the rewards of my caring for those who went before me. I only receive a basic pension and therefore would be housebound without this basic help.
As a recently arrived resident of Maiden Newton, I am very surprised there are no buses to anywhere ! It would be very useful if we had at least a minimum service to and from Dorchester, As 2 oap’s we would use it.
The survey is quite simple A bus service, out side of the towns they do not exist, if you live in a village you need a car. We have a generation of people now that do not trust public transport as they have never experienced it.
Southill, Weymouth, has been deprived of a bus service for many years now, despite petitions, letters to First and positive proposals of simple re- routing of existing outlying services (from Chickerell and Westham) but, to date, no response. Perhaps the near complete Weymouth Manor rest home and the building of some 60 units on the site behind the well used John Gregory public house may entice First bus service to reconsider, with persuasion from DCC and Weymouth Town Council. There are many local workers and retirees, some having to rely on expensive taxis, who would benefit and would decrease their carbon footprint.
We now have more dogs on buses ,one day someone came on with Three and last week another person came on board with a pram containing two dogs. People do not have to pay for dogs so they take them on the bus instead of for a walk. It would make the ride more pleasant and encourage more people to travel on the bus if the dogs were not there
I am retired and have Parkinson’s and classified as disabled, i can still drive but would prefer not to. In Ridgeway Sherborne we used to have a regular bus the number 57 it has now stopped running I need this bus to travel into town and also to go to Yeovil to do my banking as my bank in Sherborne has closed. Because of Parkinson’s i will not be able to drive much longer so i like a lot of my neighbours will be house bound so we require public transportation
Please bring a bus service to Yetminster. One to Sherborne and one to Yeovil. Just a mini bus would be fine, for all those folk who have no other means of getting to a town. It’s an essential tool for independence and choice which should be recognised especially for the elderly population.
A bus service running from Warminster station to Dorchester or Poole would be welcome. There is no means of accessing the north-south axis except private car.