A bus service hailed as a ‘vital lifeline’ for elderly people in west Dorset will be scrapped at the end of the year.

The Axe Valley and West Dorset Ring and Ride Service is a charity that provides a regular transport service for 33 villages in the west Dorset area.

However, it has been announced that following 22 years of service, it will finish on Wednesday, December 20 due to lack of funding.

The service currently offers a means of transport for elderly residents to do their shopping and attend appointments in Bridport, Dorchester, Axminster, Chard and Crewkerne, with three buses rotating between zones and services every Wednesday for a single or return price of £6.

A spokesperson from the service said that the Ring and Ride made a 'large loss' financially, which means they will be unable to continue in Dorset.

The service will still operate in East Devon following grants from Devon County Council, reported to be in the region of £20k each year to maintain the service, however Dorset County Council’s grants have been refused since 2019.

The spokesperson went on to say that the service was using grants made available during the Covid pandemic, but these are no longer available, meaning the three zonal services provided for the West Dorset area will be scrapped.

Chairperson for the charity of the service, Sandra Ward said she has been left 'disappointed' following discussions with Dorset Council. 

Mrs Ward said: "It is an unfortunate position that we have been put in, and it comes with great regret that we have had to withdraw the service.

"People not only rely on it to go shopping, but to be out and about, and remain independent from their homes and to give them a reason to keep living," she added. 

Residents have been lobbying Dorset Council to support the service, which they had until 2019.

Sue Wilkinson from Bridport said: “Its loss will be devastating for many older people who rely on this service, which gets them out of their homes, where they can meet people and benefit from being a bit more independent."

Mrs Wilkinson had been using the service since January following her retirement last year, and has benefitted from the service, as she has been able to go on trips to Sidmouth, Totnes and Taunton thanks to the service.

“I’ve met some lovely people who wouldn’t be able to get out without it, and which we wouldn’t be able to do on the normal bus service,” she added.

Uplyme and Lyme Regis services will still run as they are supported independently, and will be added to the Zone 1 route.

The villages affected are on the Zone 3, 5 and 6 routes; Askerswell, Beaminster, Bettiscombe, Broadwindsor, Burstock, Hooke, Mapperton, Mosterton, Netherbury, North Poorton, Pilsdon,

Catherston Leweston, Charmouth, Marshwood, Stanton St Gabriel, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine

Allington, Bothenhampton, Bradpole, Bridport, Burton Bradstock, Chideock, Chilcombe, Loders, Puncknowle, Powerstock, Shipton Gorge, Swyre and Symondsbury.

Dorset Echo:

West Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) chairman Bob Driscoll said: “We have had a number of users approaching us to say they have heard that the service was to be discontinued. The concern is that a lot of people rely on this service.”

WATAG will hold a meeting on Thursday, September 28, with Mr Driscoll ‘pretty certain’ that the issue will arise. The meeting will take place at 6.30pm in the Women’s Institute Hall, North Street, Bridport.

Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, has written a letter to Adrian Glover, Public Transport Manager of Dorset Council to request an update on the current situation.

Dorset Council were approached for comment.