Early plans set out to strengthen public and community transport across Dorset

Dorset Council is exploring how public bus services and community transport could work better together to improve journeys for residents across the county.

A new report, known as an Outline Business Case, has been published to help councillors review the current system and consider options for the future. Outline Business Cases are used to understand challenges and look at possible solutions before any decisions are made.

The council will be gathering feedback on its business case over the coming months, starting with the Place and Resources Overview committee on 9 July.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: “We know transport is a real concern for people across Dorset, especially in our rural communities.

“This report is about taking a step back and looking at how we can make things work better for the future. It’s early work, and no decisions have been made.

“We want to build a system that helps people get where they need to go more easily, whether that’s work, school, healthcare or seeing family and friends.

“As part of our commitment to address the climate emergency it’s also our goal to reduce reliance on the car but to do that we need to have a better public transport offer.

“Over the coming months we’ll be listening to feedback from our councillors so we can shape how the future of public and community transport can work better for the whole community.”

Transport is a key issue for many people in Dorset, particularly in rural areas where access to services, jobs and healthcare can be more difficult.

Bus services and community transport play an important role, but they do not always connect or operate as a single joined-up system.

The report sets out how services have changed in recent years due to wider national pressures, alongside increasing demand for specialist transport such as school and adult social care journeys.

It highlights an opportunity to improve how different types of transport work together so people can travel more easily and confidently.

Options being explored include better coordination between services, more flexible local transport, and support for people to travel independently where appropriate.

Buses would remain the core of the network, with other services helping people reach main routes and key destinations.

The full business case will go to Cabinet in the autumn.

People can read the outline business case and report that is going to Place and Resources Overview committee here.