Wheels in motion for Dorset bus routes survey

Local people can have their say on the future of subsidised bus routes across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP).

Last year, BCP Council spent £1.54m to help keep 24 bus services running, including six to schools. £834,000 of this came directly from the council’s budget, and the rest was from government funding via the Department for Transport (DfT).

This year, the council has received £2.66m of revenue bus grant as part of its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding from DfT to support service enhancements, and it is expected to receive at least the same amount in 2026.

The DfT has advised that whilst this year’s grant can’t replace existing council funding, if the council reviews the subsidised bus service network across BCP during 2025 to ensure that existing funding is being invested where it is most needed and represents value for money, this should be possible next year.

The comprehensive review of subsidised services will be the first since BCP Council was formed.

The review will confirm where passenger numbers have increased on services and if the subsidy (or a reduced subsidy) is still needed to run them, or to see if there are lower cost alternatives. Dependent on public feedback, some services could be changed to better meet public needs by re-routing, combining existing routes, or adjusting frequencies.