BRIDPORT residents are up in arms about proposed cuts in the town’s bus services.

Dorset County Council is consulting on cuts which include the loss of the Saturday services on several routes.

People in Jessop Avenue are mounting a campaign to keep the 44 running on Saturdays and have started a petition.

Dora Christopher from Bradpole is spearheading the campaign with the support of the King Charles Residents Association.

They argue the loss will have a significant and damaging impact on their community.

Mrs Christopher said: “Many of us don’t have cars and rely on the bus. Going in to Bridport to shop and meet friends on a Saturday can be the highlight of our week.

“Many of us also have family who are only free to meet up with us on a Saturday as they work during the week. And it’s a really busy bus too.

I don’t know when they counted the passengers as it’s nearly always more than 10 on a Saturday.”

Bob Driscoll of Western Area Transport Action Group WATAG, is also supporting her campaign.

He said: “This flies in the teeth of Dorset County Council’s Local Transport Plan which is aimed at encouraging more people to use public transport.

“As a proposal it’s not green, it’s not fair and will lead to greater social isolation. “I hope people will protest by writing to the county council, but they have to do it by Tuesday September 24.”

Letters should be sent to Dorset Passenger Transport, Dorset County Council, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ, or there are surveys on dorsetforyou.com/bussurvey Bridport Library has agreed to help people who don’t have home computers to fill in their comments on the survey form.

The 44 bus route takes in Jessopp Avenue, East Street, South Street, Coopers Drive, Valley Road, North Hill Way, Hollow Way, Maple Gardens, South Lawns, Pasture Way and Howard Road. Dorset county councillor Ronald Coatsworth said: “I do support their campaign but they have to have at least 20 people on the bus.

“There is some question about the accuracy of the system of counting the numbers.

“If people can prove that the bus has more, then the county council will certainly listen to them.

“The whole purpose of the exercise is to have another check how things really are.”