Lyme Regis bus passengers urged to have their say (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis bus passengers urged to have their say

4:48pm Monday 18th March 2013 in Local News By Adrianne Maslen

PASSENGERS in Lyme Regis are being encouraged to take part in consultations on changes to bus services and community and volunteer transport in Dorset.

Philip Sankey, of the Western Area Transport Group, told a meeting of the local area partnership LymeForward about changes to the services and the consultation by Dorset County Council.

Mr Sankey said the county council is forming a policy for supporting bus services that are not commercially viable, with the 31 service now commercial and the X53 becoming commercial this month.

He said: “It will no longer be possible to use buses for evenings out, and getting back after a day out may now mean an earlier return.

“For example, last weekday bus back from Exeter will be 7pm, rather than 8.45pm as at present.

“There is concern that buses - X53 in particular - can be so full of tourists that locals are unable to travel, as buses have a maximum capacity.

“We have noted that the Sunday X53 is set to run until September 28, but there may be a review before then.”

Mr Sankey said there are no changes planned to the 71 Lyme Regis town bus.

“If they suddenly decided they couldn't support our town bus we might then have to rally around either to find local funding to keep it going or argue our case strongly with our councillors,” he said.

Coun Daryl Turner was concerned how the buses would be affected during the A35 roadworks and closures in May. “The diversion is massive,” he said.

Mr Sankey said the bus companies are aware of the closures and is working to find a solution.

The consultations can be downloaded or completed online at dorsetforyou.com/busconsultation and hard copies are available at Dorset libraries and tourist information centres, to be completed by April 15.