A COMMUNITY service is set to deliver almost half of the 26 rural bus routes previously lost to transport funding cuts.

Dorset Community Transport is looking to reduce the impact of cuts by providing the services.

Earlier this year, the county council agreed to reduce spending on subsidising public transport by £500,000. This stemmed from a loss of funding from central government.

This cut affected a number of rural bus services operating one or two days a week, with support for 26 services withdrawn.

Five of these services were run by Dorset Community Transport. At the time, the organisation was running a pilot scheme of accessible, door-to-door transport for people using its PlusBus service.

The end of the pilot coincided with the cuts, which has allowed Dorset Community Transport to step in and offer 12 services to the community.

Dorset Community Transport also agreed to subsidise two of the services that it ran for the county council on an interim basis, as part of the organisation's charitable objectives.

Tim Christian, general manager at Dorset Community Transport, said: "The council changes happened within a very short time frame and it meant the local community did not have time to come together and find an alternative.

"However, due to the fact that Dorset Community Transport was already running a pilot, we were able to jump in very quickly with a solution to provide continuity and meet the essential transport needs of the area."

Passengers who wish to use the service need to pre-book their journey. One-off bookings can be made whilst regular weekly trips are also available.

Mr Christian said: "It’s been a big cultural change for the community, but we have worked hard to engage with people on how community transport schemes can be more responsive to their needs for social and leisure journeys.

"We were overwhelmed by demand, queries and concerns. Now we have been able to settle into the routes that we run, the next step is to improve, refine and expand the service according to the needs identified by the community.”

Service user, Ella Smith, said: "I’ve been a keen supporter of PlusBus since the withdrawal of the bus services were announced. I can use the service to get into Blandford for my weekly shop and doctor’s visits. It means everything to me, a total life line."

Anna Whitty, CEO of ECT Charity, said: "Dorset Community Transport was able to respond at such short notice because we are an established and professional provider across the county, running successful and extensive services.

"This is a great example of how community transport can provide a solution for those that are unable to access public transport by virtue of geographic isolation. It’s not about replicating other existing successful bus schemes, but about plugging the gaps and, in so doing, reducing rural isolation."

For more information on the services and routes operated by Dorset Community Transport, please email dorset@ectcharity.co.uk or call 01258 287980.