1. Question: What progress is being made on Dorset Council's Bus Network
Accessibility Plan?
Answer: There will be an initial Accessibility Plan must be in place by April 2027.
The first version will focus on priorities and establish the framework for future
work. Engagement with disability groups and accessibility stakeholders will inform
the development of the plan.
2. Question: Why are there no Travel Safe Officers in the Dorset Council area?
Answer: Travel Safe Officers operating within the BCP area are funded through
BCP Council's Local Authority Bus Grant allocation. Dorset Council does not
currently have sufficient funding to introduce a similar scheme within the Dorset
Council area.
Bus Services and Network Development
3. Question: Could the Wimborne 13/13A service be diverted through West Moors?
Answer: The suggestion has been shared with Morebus. Service 13/13A is a
successful commercial service which has recently benefited from Local Authority
Bus Grant funding from Dorset Council and BCP Council to increase the
frequency to three buses per hour. Any diversion would be a commercial decision
for Morebus and may require additional funding if it affects the viability of the
route.
4. Question: What progress is being made with First Bus regarding Service 10?
Answer: Ther is collaboration with the Council and First Bus and has contributed
Local Authority Bus Grant funding towards Service 10 operations. Further
information is available within the BSIP Delivery Programme.
5. Question: What is happening with Service 38 between Ferndown and
Ringwood?
Answer: Service 38 remain under discussion with the operator and continue to
be monitored.
6. Question: Could further route improvements be considered in Chickerell and
High Hill following changes elsewhere in Weymouth?
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Answer: There would need to be discussions with local members and
communities would be required to understand the need. It is important to
maintain the strategic function of express services and balancing local access
against journey times.
7. Question: How can changes to bus routes on Portland be proposed?
Answer: Leanne Rowland Bright (First Bus) advised that any route changes
would need to be considered by its Network Planning Team. The operator offered
to continue discussions directly with Councillor Kimber regarding specific
proposals.
8. Question: What are the plans for Saturday Core Route services?
Answer: Saturday services have already been introduced on the CR2, CR3 and
CR6 using Local Authority Bus Grant funding. Dorset Council's ambition remains
to deliver a county-wide Saturday Core Route network when additional funding
becomes available.
9. Question: Looking to the future, could bus timetables move from seasonal
changes to a single annual timetable?
Answer: Dorset's bus network experiences significant seasonal variation,
particularly driven by tourism and coastal travel demand. Whilst operators
generally introduce major timetable changes twice a year, seasonal adjustments
are often still required and therefore a single annual timetable would be difficult to
achieve.
10. Question Apart from WATAG, how is Dorset Council engaging with communities
regarding public and community transport needs?
Answer: There is engagement takes place through a range of channels,
including town and parish councils and the Community Conversations
programme. There has been consultations for the Local Transport Plan, and
there be future engagement in relation to the Network Accessibility Plan.
11. Question: Has Dorset Council engaged with Lyme Regis Town Council regarding
the Park & Ride and town minibus service?
Answer: There has been engagement with Lyme Regis Town Council on
transport and connectivity issues through ongoing discussions with local
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councillors and town council representatives. Lyme Regis and Charmouth have
also been encouraged to participate in the Community Conversations programme
to help identify local transport priorities and potential future solutions.
Community Transport
12. Question: Does Dorset Community Transport operate within Weymouth,
Portland and Chickerell?
Answer: Tim Christian (Dorset Community Transport) advised that it has not
actively developed schemes in these areas but has not ruled them out. The
organisation generally responds to identified unmet transport needs and would
welcome discussions where transport gaps exist.
13. Question: Can concessionary bus passes be used on Dorset Community
Transport services?
Answer: Most Dorset Community Transport services accept concessionary bus
passes through Dorset Council's discretionary ENCTS arrangements. Some
stakeholder-funded services require fares to be paid to support operation of the
service.
14. Question: How does Dorset Community Transport identify passengers with
accessibility needs?
Answer: Accessibility requirements are usually identified through the
membership or booking process. For group transport bookings, requirements are
communicated by the organiser in advance to ensure suitable arrangements can
be made.
Funding and Strategic Transport
15. Question: What work is taking place to secure additional funding for bus, rail and
coach services across Dorset?
Answer: Currently, there is ongoing engagement with Government, rail operators
and transport partners to deliver improvements across the network, including
accessibility schemes, real-time information, interchange projects and bus
service enhancements.
Passenger Information and Infrastructure
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16. Question: What plans are there to improve bus and coach station facilities,
including Bridport and Blandford Forum?
Answer: Investment is being made in interchange facilities, including upgrades to
Real Time Information displays. Blandford Bus Station will receive new colour RTI
screens to replace older dot-matrix equipment. Wider discussions are also taking
place regarding bus interchange improvements across Dorset.
17. Question: What interchange investment is planned following improvements at
Dorchester South and Weymouth railway stations?
Answer: Improving connections between different transport modes remains a
priority and further work is taking place around railway station and wider transport
interchange improvements.
18. Question: When will Verwood receive Real Time Information displays?
Answer: We will would review potential RTI provision in Verwood and welcomed
suggestions for suitable locations. Future deployment will be subject to funding
availability and passenger demand.
19. Question: Can additional timetable information and RTI provision be considered
within Lyme Regis and Charmouth?
Answer at the Forum: Charmouth is due to receive RTI displays and Lyme Regis
is currently scheduled to receive one RTI display. Further requests will be
reviewed separately.
20. Question: When will Sherborne receive Real Time Information displays?
Answer: RTI provision at Greenhill, Sherborne is programmed for delivery.
Additional sites may be considered in future, subject to available funding and
demand.
21. Question: Can communication around bus service changes be improved?
Answer: There is scope for closer collaboration between the Council, bus
operators and local councillors to improve communication and promotion of bus
service changes and transport initiatives.
Rail Integration
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22. Question: What is the latest position regarding lifts at Yeovil Junction and
Dorchester South?
Answer: The Yeovil Junction accessibility scheme has reached the approval
stage but has not yet entered development. At Dorchester South, South Western
Railway and Network Rail are continuing design and feasibility work to establish
costs and delivery requirements. Dorset Council remains supportive of the
scheme.
23. Question: Will Dorchester South receive lifts between platforms?
Answer: There is proposals for lifts between platforms continue to be developed
by South Western Railway and Network Rail, with further feasibility and design
work ongoing.
24. Question: Why can't bus timetable changes be more closely coordinated with rail
services and neighbouring authorities?
Answer: Dorset's network has unique seasonal demands, making coordination
challenging. However, there remains a desire to strengthen partnerships with rail
operators and neighbouring authorities where opportunities arise.
25. Question: Can real-time bus information be integrated more closely with railway
station passenger information systems?
Answer Officers confirmed working groups and discussion meetings had now
been established but acknowledged progress had been slower than hoped.
There will be wider discussion between the Council and Bus/Rail operators at the
Working Group
26. Questions: What can be done to improve connectivity between Lyme Regis and
Charmouth, Axminster Station, Dorset County Hospital and key car parks?
Answer: There is continual dialogue between the rail operator, the bus operator
and Devon Council takes place to ensure good connectivity at Axminster station
as has been demonstrated recently by a collaborative approach to solving short
term issues with the temporary rail timetable
Answer Officers confirmed working groups and discussion meetings had now
been established but acknowledged progress had been slower than hoped.
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There will be wider discussion between the Council and Bus/Rail operators at the
Working Group
