I see Dorset Council has unveiled its latest grand plan for public transport, complete with “exciting” projects, a “real opportunity” to improve services and even a shiny new electric vehicle trial. There’s talk of environmental goals, visitor benefits and “vital first steps” towards a zero-emission fleet. All very visionary.
But there’s rather a disconnect between the council’s triumphant language and the underwhelming actual provision for rural North Dorset. It’s essentially a bold headline backed
by … three Saturday buses and vague promises.
While Weymouth will see buses every 15 minutes, Dorchester gets an upgraded weekend link and even Bridport’s connections are improved. North Dorset – with our scattered villages, ageing population and deeply limited transport options – is gifted the long-awaited return of three Saturday services on the CR2, CR3, and CR6 routes. That’s it.
No weekday services. No evening buses. No real progress on the “accessibility” or “connectivity” the council has assured us are priorities.
And as for the single electric minibus pilot …
there’s no word yet on where it’ll actually operate, but I think we’re all fairly certain that it won’t be humming between Sturminster and Shaftesbury any time soon.
This, apparently, is what ambition looks like in the north of the county.
Of course, urban centres need functioning public transport too. But the disparity is galling. North Dorset residents were vocal during the public consultation for the county’s Local Transport Plan. I believe better buses were the number one request. And yet, the latest Bus Service Improvement Plan offers them little more than a pat on the head and a Saturday ride into town – as long as they don’t plan on staying out too late.
Councillor Jon Andrews, Cabinet Member for Place Services, says the council wants to do more – that they’re working hard to ssecure fairer funding and that Dorset received the fourth lowest revenue allocation in the South West. Fair point. But this doesn’t explain the internal prioritisation decisions. The council still chooses to funnel what funds it did receive into a handful of high-profile towns, leaving the rest of the county peering wistfully from behind the hedgerows.
It’s also hard to ignore the optics.
Urban voters see improvements: rural ones see spin. And everyone sees the headlines – ambitious! sustainable! electric! – which, when set against the reality of living in much of North Dorset, feel more like a marketing campaign than meaningful policy.
This matters. Not just for convenience, but for community. As The BV reported last month*, a functioning, fair public transport system isn’t a luxury – it’s the lifeline that lets non-drivers access work, education, healthcare and social connection. It’s what makes rural living viable for the young and the elderly alike.
So yes, the new plan might tick some boxes. It might look good in Westminster reports and social media posts. But for much of North Dorset, it’s not a vision of progress. It’s a stark reminder of what we’re missing – and how far we still have to go.
In the meantime, set your alarms early. The Saturday bus waits for no one.
*Stranded: Dorset is one of the worst in the country
The Grumbler – the open opinion column in The BV. It’s a space for anyone to share their thoughts freely. While the editor will need to know the identity of contributors, all pieces will be published anonymously. With just a few basic guidelines to ensure legality, safety and respect, this is an open forum for honest and unfiltered views. Got something you need to get off your chest? Send it to editor@bvmagazine.co.uk. The Grumbler column is here for you: go on, say it. We dare you.
Brilliantly written – so right and bloody galling. Most of the current administration (Liberal Democrats) are completely Weymouth focused, I doubt some of them have ever even been to North Dorset – a place where our young are pretty much trapped unless they have willing parents with a car – and 35% of those in social housing are without a car…..
If you want to work – well good luck in our rural area, choices are limited. It’s impossible to even access much of the education provision outside of the North – try getting to Weymouth College, or Kingston Maurward.