Dorset Council to invest £67 million into public transport over next seven years
There are plans to restore public confidence in Dorset’s buses, with an extra 700 journeys over the next seven years
Dorset residents could see more bus services as early as next summer after the county council approved a record £67.5 million investment in public transport over seven years.
Council leader Cllr Nick Ireland promised “lots more buses” by next summer as councillors backed a programme intended to reconnect communities, improve access to essential services and restore confidence in a network criticised for leaving gaps between towns and villages.
The investment will add £5.6m a year to public transport funding over the seven-year period, with the plan initially concentrating on core routes before developing to meet changing needs.
Cllr Simon Clifford, the council’s finance portfolio holder, said the spending represented its biggest commitment to public transport routes and journeys.
“At a time of record fuel costs this is not lost on me,” he said.
The proposals were welcomed by transport campaigner David Redgwell, who highlighted missing links between larger towns, limited Saturday services and poor connections with rail journeys.
For many residents, particularly in rural areas, inadequate transport can make getting to work, college, healthcare appointments and community activities difficult.
Cllr Jack Jeanes, portfolio holder for place services, said transport was among the issues residents raised most frequently because it affected almost every aspect of daily life.
“Transport has an impact on people’s opportunities, wellbeing and quality of life, yet we know that for too many people, particularly in rural areas, the current system is not meeting their needs,” he said.
The programme aims to deliver 700 additional bus journeys each week, including services to villages that have gone years without a bus connection.
Plans include more frequent services, a full Saturday core network, new strategic routes and stronger community transport provision. Independent travel training and flexible transport options are also intended to help people in areas where conventional bus services may not be viable.
Jeanes described the proposals as a “transformational programme” designed to create a more connected and accessible system for residents and visitors.
Cllr Nick Ireland called the investment “a big deal”, linking it to wider council priorities around employment, healthcare, wellbeing and community life.
“This is a genuine long-term investment, it’s a seven-year project; it’s a lot of money but we are going to do it,” he said.
Shaftesbury councillor Derek Beer said he believed the plan could restore public confidence in a transport network he felt had been cut back to the bone a decade ago.