Dozens of bus users and residents filled Beaminster Public Hall to have their say on the most recent cuts to bus services.

First Wessex announced earlier this month that its Number 6 service between Bridport and Beaminster would stop running on May 1 due to ‘continuing losses’ making it unviable.

It was taken over by the bus operator in September 2017 after Damory withdrew its Number 40 service between Bridport and Yeovil.

A spokesman for First said: "After looking at the long-term financial viability of Service 6, which operates between Bridport, Beaminster and Crewkerne, we’ve regretfully concluded that we cannot continue to run the service in the light of continuing losses on the service. This decision has not been taken lightly, but as the service is operated without any form of local government subsidy, the revenue taken on the route simply fails to match the costs of the operation.

"First Wessex has informed stakeholders of our intention to deregister the Service 6 from 1 May 2020. We hope that by giving as much notice as possible, local authorities have ample opportunity to decide whether to tender for a replacement service. The last day of First Wessex operation will be Friday, May 1, 2020."

At a Beaminster Town Council meeting this week, the crowd vented their anger and raised concerns about young people using it to get to work and socialise, asking why school buses couldn’t also pick up the public, the changing timetable of the service, that it worked better when Damory ran the service and Dorset Council had a responsibility to enable a service to continue on the route.

But some also saw a positive side, that it was an opportunity for a new operator to run the service differently.

Resident Sheena Fox said: “There’s been nothing but stress, hassle, loss of jobs, having to move house and people just can’t get to where they want to anymore.

“The route has not been terribly good for the last few years after the last changes and now that First are pulling out, it’s quite a good thing really.”

Cllr Rebecca Knox, Dorset councillor for the Beaminster area, agreed with what local residents were saying and suggested setting up a group, like the Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) in Bridport to help gather evidence to show how vital the bus service is. She also reported that there are ‘very positive’ negotiations happening with commercial operators at Dorset Council.

She said: “WATAG are all very well but it is a distant body to go and meet with on a Thursday evening in Bridport, so as a temporary, let’s have a Beaminster equivalent.

“It shouldn’t be a fight, it should be a grown-up conversation and one that should happen in Beaminster, not just Bridport.”

However, Cllr Chris Turner, chairman of the town council, said that Cllr Knox was being ‘dismissive’ of WATAG’s efforts and had ‘disrespected’ TAG’s across the county.

He said: “You have been ignoring this situation that has been building for years. It’s all very well saying let’s have a meeting, but that doesn’t get over the situation now.”

Cllr Knox said she was remaining positive and a meeting will be held in Beaminster Public Hall on Monday at 6pm.

In Bridport, bus user and campaigner Billy Shearer said the it wasn’t a surprise and that First were ‘playing a long game, changing and cutting services to the point they can claim there is no demand’.

“First are simply not interested in Bridport or Beaminster. They do no marketing, no promotions, no deals with local businesses, nothing that might grow the business.

“Dorset Council have a responsibility here, something they have neglected. Ultimately, with fewer opportunities to travel, bringing people into towns where they support local businesses, it is Dorset Council who will suffer, alongside the passengers that use Service 6 as a lifeline service. I would ask Dorset Council why, when they have declared a climate emergency, they are tacitly allowing our public transport to disappear.”

Bridport Town Council discussed the issue at a council meeting last week and resolved to have an urgent meeting with senior councillors at Dorset Council, the MP and members of WATAG to put pressure on the council and make them react to the problems facing bus services.

A pledge to ‘leave no stone unturned’ to save the bus route was made by Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment.

He said that since the council was told of the First Wessex decision to withdraw the service from Friday, May 1, officers have been working to retrieve the situation.

“We will not leave any stone un-turned to try and resolve this,” he told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday in response to a question about whether or not the council would help from local Cllr Tony Alford.