A volunteer bus service will be started to save a 'vital' town bus route after its sudden axing.
As reported by the News, the Number 71 bus has ceased service after Dorset Council ended its school transport contract with operator Damory.
The bus was linked to the school service for Charmouth Primary, running as a town bus service in between school drop-off and pick-up times.
Dorset Council has awarded the school bus contract to Dorset Community Transport, but the town service ended on August 31.
Councillors at the Lyme Regis Town Council meeting on Wednesday, September 4 voiced anger at being informed of the decision by Dorset Council 'so late' and unanimously voted to replace it with a volunteer-run service.
No information is available yet on when the bus would run and its route, but it is believed that the service would be similar to the CB3 Beaminster Community Bus. Started in 2018, the CB3 links rural villages to towns in west Dorset each Saturday and is run by volunteers with support from Beaminster Town Council.
New mayor Cllr Philip Evans said: "It is unfortunate that Dorset Council knew this was in the offing back in January but Lyme Regis Town Council was not informed until June.
"Dorset Council has a transport budget of £40.1 million but it is clear little old Lyme won’t get much of that.
"Since then our senior officers have been working flat out to come up with solutions. Be assured we will do our outmost to see that we find a way forward to keep this essential service going."
New deputy mayor Cllr Michaela Ellis said: "It has come to us so late, it has put us on the back foot. I have had so many people come to me telling me that they are worried about how they are going to get to work."
Read more: Bus user reacts to news of Lyme Regis service ending
The council was told that bus companies are asking for a £100,000 yearly subsidy to replace the service - far more than it can afford.
The lowest offer is First Bus who say they can do it for £80,000 - though they do not have a bus small enough, lending new challenges including potentially changing the route.
Additionally, the town clerk John Wright told the council that buying a minivan and hiring drivers would be just as expensive.
Read more: Beloved bus service needs your support to keep going
However, this wasn't without some concerns as Cllr Cheryl Reynolds says she has struggled in the past to find volunteers for a hospital shuttle service, and believed this service could face the same obstacles.
She said: "I would love to see it happen but I have my doubts."
The council will be moving to advertise the positions, and if drivers can be secured and any other obstacles cleared, a mini-bus of around 12-14 seats will be purchased by the town council.
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