Campaigners are hopeful that a town council can find a new provider of a ‘vital’ bus service as it faces the axe.

As previously reported, the number 71 bus service, operated by Damory in Lyme Regis is under threat after Dorset Council ended its school transport contract with the operator.

Lyme Regis Town Council has been doing all it can to save the service, which councillors have described as 'a lifeline', providing transport for elderly, disabled and isolated residents around the town.

The bus is linked to the school bus service for Charmouth Primary School, running as a town bus service between drop-off and pick-up times. If no alternatives are found, the service will end on Saturday, August 31.

Phil Sankey, a member of the West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) who lives in Lyme Regis, said: “We are aware that Lyme Regis Town Council are seeking quotations from other services, and we recognise as do they, how vital this service is.

"We just have to watch this space and hope, although we realise that it will be hard to organise another service in time.

“We trust that the town council will be successful in finding an alternative operation and that there is no break in service. We also recognise how vital and how well used it is, I see people every week get on and use the service to get around the town.”

Mr Sankey added that Dorset Council’s decision to discontinue supporting school transport has ‘had a knock-on effect’ in ‘destabilising the service.’

He said: “We feel that, to avoid a situation happening in the future, Dorset Council should be persuaded to look in and around holistically at the situation, not just school contracts in isolation.

“The discontinuation of the school transport has had a knock on effect in destabilising the service, as well as being caught out by a reduction in numbers to the service.”

The bus was previously saved by Lyme Town council in 2017 after the-then Dorset County Council withdrew its funding for the service. This has cost the town council more than £16,000 a year.

Richard Tyldsley, Damory general manager, said: “Damory operates route 71 with financial assistance from Lyme Regis Town Council. Its operation of the route is dependent on a suitable vehicle being available in the local area at peak times, and a local authority school bus contract has provided that vehicle until now. 

“That school bus contract has not been retained following a re-tendering exercise by Dorset Council, with a smaller bus now being used for student travel. Consequently, Damory is unable to operate the town service from September. 

“Lyme Regis Town Council has been kept aware of Damory’s position at every step and is now understood to be considering whether alternative options exist for a replacement service.” 

A spokesperson for Lyme Regis Town Council confirmed that there is no update to the situation, as it continues to search for an alternative option.