Motoring & Transport | Posted on December 9th, 2025 | return to news

Dorset bus funding falls short, complains council

Dorset Council welcomes additional funding for services but argues that other authorities in the south receive more.

Although Dorset Council has secured additional funding to improve bus services across the county, it says it isn’t enough.

The government has awarded £12 million to the council to improve services and stops across the county from 2026/27 to 2028/29.

Over the next three years, £6.8 million in revenue funding will help Dorset Council and local operators make targeted upgrades, such as restoring some Saturday services and improving frequencies where demand is strongest. Meanwhile, £5.2 million in capital funding will pay for better bus stops and real-time information, with capital support continuing to 2029/30.

These improvements will still make a difference for residents who rely on buses for essential journeys, even if they cannot match the scale of investment seen elsewhere.

However, Dorset’s allocation is significantly lower than neighbouring and similar rural authorities. Cornwall will receive £30m and Somerset £22m, while Plymouth and Wiltshire also have higher shares.

This means Dorset cannot deliver the same level of service improvements seen elsewhere, and the council will continue pressing for a fairer long-term share.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet member for Place Services, said: “This funding helps us make practical improvements residents have asked for, such as restoring some Saturday services and upgrading stops. However, it’s clear Dorset needs a fairer long-term share to match our rural geography and travel needs. We’ll keep pressing for that while making the best use of what we have.”

Dorset Council will agree the delivery schedule with bus operators and Enhanced Partnership, prioritising routes and locations where improvements make the biggest difference. It will publish timetables and infrastructure works once confirmed, with updates provided on its bus improvement pages.