Southill residents petitioning to have bus route returned

Southill and nearby Radipole village are the only areas out of Weymouth town centre without a bus route, and residents are calling for a service to be returned.

The area is home to many elderly people and campaigners say people are left isolated without an affordable public transport link to town centre shops and to services such as the doctor's surgery.

Southill lost its regular commercial bus link almost 10 years ago as the service operated by First wasn't making enough money.

Residents say the need to get a bus back comes amid the cost of living crisis which has seen the price for taxis soar, the rising cost of fuel and an increase in other general living expenses.

Resident Terry Hirons, 76, a retired builder who has lived in Southill for two years has started a petition. Copies have been left in local businesses for people to sign and Mr Hirons is also knocking on doors urging people to support the campaign.

He said: "Residents here miss the bus. The current situation with taxis, fuel and parking getting more expensive means residents, especially the older folks, are struggling to get into town.

"It costs more to get into town now than to buy groceries, I have a bus pass, and it just seems there is no point in having it."

In 2013 Southill had a 45 minute service run by First, which was gradually reduced then scrapped. It was then taken up by South West Coaches, which also had to drop the service due to a lack of regular passengers. Finally a community bus ran from 2018 until having to stop in 2020 because of the pandemic. So Southill remains a place with bus stops but no service.

Town councillor David Harris, who lives in Southill, has been trying to secure a bus route since the last service ended.

He said: "Southill has a growing older population, so more people are in need of the service, and with petrol and car parking prices, those who cannot walk or cycle to town are isolated in the community.

"Residents have been without a regular bus service for almost 10 years now, and are very keen to have one returned to us, it is the thing people talk to me about the most and, shortly a new care home with 60 residents will open in Southill, which could help create demand.

"We are hoping to get either a diversion from a currently operating service, or an experiment with a small electric bus for a greener service.

"I had a very positive meeting with First Bus and they are going to be looking into whether a Southill bus can be reinstated.

"It is important the petition is continued and people sign it, as it will be vital for telling Dorset Council how strongly people feel."

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “We continue to work with transport operators to revitalise the bus network through our Bus Service Improvement Plan. We continue to lobby Government to provide funding through the national bus strategy – Bus back better and their Levelling up scheme.”

A spokesperson from South West Coaches said: "We would always be interested in new bus routes. The only problem you might have is getting it funded by Dorset Council.

"I'm not sure it would be commercially viable as a stand alone service, but we are always interested in promoting bus services."