A CROSS-county bus service has a “bright future” despite the current operator de-registering the route from the end of October.

Service 6, which runs from Bridport to Yeovil, is currently run by Buses of Somerset, with some services sub-contracted to First Wessex.

A contract for the new service has been put to tender to local bus operators so that the service can continue.

In an update shared by the West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group, Adrian Glover - public transport manager at Dorset Council - said: “The tender for the service 6 replacement is now live on the contracts portal and we are looking forward to receiving bids to operate the new service when the existing contract ceases at the end of October.

“This tender has been designed so that it can grow and develop as I am aware that the previous offerings on this service did not adequately meet the needs and aspirations of the passengers that rely on it.

“We are confident that there is a brighter future for service 6 than there has been in recent times.”

Buses of Somerset announced its intention to stop operating the service in July after passenger numbers were “hit hard” by the pandemic.

As reported, Dorset Council said it remained “fully supportive” of the route and would look to work with local transport action groups to create a new service “that is fit for purpose and sustainable into the future”.

Bob Driscoll, committee member of Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG), said: “We very much believe in trying to get the passenger levels back up to a sustainable level: places like Beaminster have no alternative at all if this service gets scaled back - it is the only regular bus through some of our rural villages.”

* WATAG is holding its first open public meeting since Covid 19 hit in March 2020.

It will be held in the Women's Institute Hall, North Street, Bridport, DT6 3JQ on Thursday, September 29. Doors will be open from 6pm and the meeting will start at 6.30pm running for an hour.

Dorset Council’s Public Transport Manager, Adrian Glover, will be attending so if you have any questions have them ready; if you are unable to attend you can send a question to be read out by WATAG via - watag@hotmail.com - or by telephone to - 01308 425805 - please leave a clear question on the answerphone if no-one is there.