Dorset Council has set out early plans to better join up bus services and community transport across the county, with Bournemouth residents who rely on public transport among those set to benefit. The council’s new Outline Business Case explores options for a more coordinated network, keeping buses at its core while making local travel more flexible.
The document will be reviewed by the Place and Resources Overview Committee on 9 July 2026, before a full business case reaches Cabinet in the autumn. Cllr Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services, said the goal was to help residents reach work, school, healthcare and social visits more easily. “We want to build a system that helps people get where they need to go more easily,” he said.
Transport remains a pressing concern for Dorset residents, especially in rural communities where access to jobs, services and healthcare can be difficult. The ideas being examined include better co-ordination between different transport services, more flexible community transport, and support for independent travel where suitable. Dorset received £3.3 million of Bus Grant funding in 2025/26 as part of a national £670 million allocation, and the Department for Transport has committed around £158.5 million to the council for transport schemes from 2026/27 to 2029/30, with £33 million earmarked for the first year.
The council has been working with BCP Council on a pan-Dorset transport plan since public consultation in 2025 identified better public transport as residents’ top priority. Joint funding already supports the Bournemouth to Wimborne Service 13, which maintained enhanced levels introduced in February 2024. If the full business case wins approval, the first improved services could begin phasing in from 2027/28.
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