BUS services in Dorset could be put at further risk after the county council revealed £1.85m worth of transport savings still needed to be made.

Dorset County Council has confirmed it needs to further reduce its transport budget by £1.85m in the next financial year.

This includes £1m on public bus routes and £850,000 on school transport. The council’s current budget for these areas is £10m.

The announcement came just months after councillors agreed to save £500,000 on rural bus services and decided it would support communities to develop local transport links.

The county council is now asking residents to have their say on a range of further proposals, which sees 42 routes under review.

The proposals include; prioritising funding on routes that serve the most people and best support Dorset’s economy; opening up more school services to the public; working closely with community transport operators; working with bus companies to use empty school buses for rural ‘in-fill’ services.

A consultation will take place between now and Friday, July 22. The council will consider the results and make a decision in September. Any changes would come into effect next summer.

Cllr Peter Finney, the council’s Cabinet member for environment, infrastructure and highways, said: “We are looking at the bigger picture and aiming to develop a modern transport network that makes best use of our reducing resources by joining up commercial, public and community services to support our economy and keep people connected.

“We can’t afford to keep our current public bus network, which is neither effective nor sustainable with the level of funding reductions we face.

“We are keen for the widest possible range of people to have their say by letting us know where and when they travel and how the proposals could affect them.”

To comment on the proposals, visit dorsetforyou.com/travel-dorset/bus-services-review

For those unable to access a computer, paper questionnaires are also available at local libraries or by calling 01305 221088.