PLANS are being drawn up to improve bus services across Dorset - in what has been described as one of the biggest shake ups for public transport in more than 30 years.

The council's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is being developed in response to the government's new National Bus Strategy, which aims to make bus services across England more attractive, cheaper, easier to use, faster, more reliable, and greener.  The council will be working in partnership with local bus operators towards an agreed vision of improvements and an action plan that will form the BSIP.

Dorset Council will be also be collaborating with community groups, business groups, and passengers themselves to find out the best approach for the new plan.

The BSIP will act on five key areas: networks and services, fares, ticketing, passenger facilities and bus priority measures.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said: “This is the most significant change for bus services since deregulation in 1986.  "By working in close collaboration with operators and local groups we will develop and deliver an ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan for Dorset that puts the passenger first, raises further the perception of bus travel, generates mode shift away from private cars, and sees decarbonisation of the local transport fleet.”

West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) has been campaigning for what they say is a long needed revival of bus services throughout the area.

Chair of WATAG, Bob Driscoll, said: "Since 2011, residents of West Dorset have seen their bus services decimated, with over 10 routes withdrawn completely, leaving many of the smaller villages and hamlets without any conventional public transport.  "Those bus routes that have survived have also seen cuts in services, with early morning and late evening buses withdrawn, and a reduction in frequency of the remaining buses, which makes them less useful and is hastening the spiral of decline.  "We are delighted that Dorset Council has accepted the importance of a good public transport service that actually serves the needs of its constituents.  "We accept there is much to do – much of it being to undo decisions taken in the past that effectively decimated rural bus services in the last 10 years – and the tight deadline of the end of October will undoubtedly concentrate minds."

Some of the improvements WATAG would like to see for transport in Dorset include improved frequency of services, earlier start and later finish of trunk routes and a 7 day service on all but very minor routes.  Marc Reddy, First Wessex' managing director, said: “We welcome the publication of Dorset Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan – we fully support, and are committed to, delivering this exciting, customer-focused vision.  "As a local bus company, we already work closely and effectively with Dorset Council and other local authorities, and the Enhanced Partnership approach will enable us to build on these strong local relationships as we move toward recovery and work to improve customer experience."

The BSIP will be published in the autumn.

More details of how to be involved will be published shortly, but anyone can register their interest to the council by emailing busbackbetter@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk