The CR2 and CR3 bus routes between Gillingham and Shaftesbury and Gillingham and Sturminster Newton are to get a new Saturday service.

Central government funding to Dorset Council will be used to provide a Saturday service on the routes with the same frequency as Monday to Friday.

The funding will also aim to boost the connectivity of the services for passengers.

Revealing the news to Gillingham Town Council at a recent meeting, Dorset Councillor Val Pothecarysaid  she was ‘very pleased’ with the new services and improved connections. ‘It’s a bit of a small win I think,’ she said.

In a later statement Dorset Council said that the local improvements were part of a wider series of projects and improvements across the county.

This will include increasing bus service frequencies, launching community transport schemes, upgrading infrastructure, and trialling an electric minibus to promote a sustainable, low-emission fleet.

Developed in partnership with local transport operators, the council’s delivery plan was approved on Thursday 20 March and will achieve improvements in areas such as Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, Sturminster Newton, as well as Gillingham, while maintaining enhanced routes between Wimborne, Ferndown, and Bournemouth.

In November 2024 the Government announced £670m to enable local authorities to deliver their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP). Dorset was allocated £3.3m of Bus Grant funding, with which the council aims to boost public transport use, cut carbon emissions, and improve accessibility, particularly for rural communities, via the BSIP.

This delivery plan, conditional on its submission and publication online, will benefit residents and visitors while supporting Dorset’s environmental and social goals.

Key Projects for 2025/26:

Improved Bus Services:

• Service 2 (Weymouth – Littlemoor): Increased frequency and route diversion via Mount Pleasant Park and Ride, operating every 15 minutes Monday-Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sundays, year-round.

• Service 10 (Weymouth – Dorchester): Weekend services enhanced to 15-minute intervals on Saturdays and 20-minute intervals on Sundays, with improved connectivity to Portland.

• Service 13 (Bournemouth – Wimborne): Joint funding with BCP Council to maintain enhanced service levels introduced in February 2024.

Bus Network Enhancements:

• Saturday services for CR6 (Bridport – Yeovil), CR2 (Gillingham – Shaftesbury), and CR3 (Gillingham – Sturminster Newton), improving frequencies and connectivity.

• New Community Transport Service: Launch of a pilot enhanced community transport provision, using an electric vehicle – a vital first step towards a zero-emission fleet

Bus stop Upgrades

• Replacement and modernisation of Real-Time Information (RTI) displays, introducing vibrant, colour-coded ‘totems’.

• Renewal of bus stop infrastructure, including poles, flags, and shelters at targeted locations across the county.

Recent engagement for Dorset’s Local Transport Plan (LTP4) highlighted better public transport as the number one priority among residents, especially in rural areas. Dorset Council funds and contracts core routes that connect the county’s market towns and remains determined to deliver a transport network that better meets the demands of its communities.

Councillor Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: ‘The projects we’ve planned for 2025/26 are incredibly exciting and represent a real opportunity to enhance public transport in Dorset. From improved bus services to infrastructure upgrades and electric vehicle trials, these improvements will make transport more accessible, reliable, and sustainable, benefitting residents and visitors alike.

‘But we want to do more. Dorset remains disadvantaged by the current funding allocation formula, having received the fourth lowest revenue allocation in the Southwest region. The money we’ve received from Government is only a small part of what is required to transform the bus network across Dorset, and longer-term funding is key to us achieving our BSIP vision.

‘We will work closely with our MPs to advocate for fairer funding in the future to truly unlock the potential of public transport across our county.’

To find out more visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/bus-service-improvement-plan