Dorset Unveils Long-Term Transport Vision to Secure Better Bus Services and Future Funding

Joint strategy with BCP Council aims to transform public transport across the region, strengthen rural connectivity and unlock further government investment through to 2041.

Dorset Council has approved an ambitious long-term transport strategy designed to improve bus services, strengthen links between communities and position the region for future government investment.

The new Local Transport Plan, developed jointly with neighbouring Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, sets out a vision for transport across the conurbation until 2041, with buses identified as the central focus of early investment.

While the strategy has now received Dorset Council's backing, it must also be approved by BCP Council before becoming the shared transport blueprint for the area.

Buses at the Heart of the Plan

The strategy places significant emphasis on improving public transport, particularly bus services, recognising the growing importance of reliable and accessible travel for both urban and rural communities.

However, councillors acknowledged that some areas will not benefit immediately from the first phase of investment, with future funding expected to expand coverage over time.

Former Dorset Council transport portfolio holder Councillor Ray Bryan, who helped develop the strategy during the previous Conservative administration, said delivering better bus services must remain the priority.

"Let's get more buses on the roads that people can actually use," he said.

"We need the right organisations working together, and improving rural transport has to be a key part of that. Time is not on our side, particularly as our population continues to age."

Rural Communities Still Waiting

Several councillors welcomed the strategy while highlighting gaps that still need to be addressed.

Councillor Simon Gibson, representing Verwood, said he supported the overall direction of the plan despite his community receiving little immediate benefit.

He expressed hope that both councils would move quickly to include currently overlooked areas as funding becomes available.

Meanwhile, Portland councillor Carralyn Parkes called for greater investment in bus services serving new housing developments, arguing that some growing communities currently have no public transport provision at all.

The importance of improving access to healthcare was also raised during the debate.

Councillor Simon Clifford, who represents Chickerell and serves as Dorset Council's Cabinet Member for Finance, highlighted the challenges faced by rural residents, noting that a return trip by bus to attend a GP appointment and collect a prescription could currently take as long as four hours.

He confirmed that further proposals aimed at improving links between market towns and expanding community transport services are expected to come forward within the next year.

£158 Million Transport Investment

The strategy is underpinned by significant government funding designed to support delivery over the coming years.

Dorset Council has been allocated approximately £158.5 million through the Department for Transport's consolidated transport funding programme covering the period from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

The funding includes both capital and revenue investment through the Integrated Transport Fund and Bus Services Fund, with more than £33 million available during 2026/27 alone.

The money will be used to support a range of priorities, including:

• Highway maintenance

• Bus service improvements

• Active travel infrastructure

• Wider local transport initiatives

The council says the funding will support implementation of the Local Transport Plan through to 2031, while strengthening future bids for additional government investment.

Public Consultation Shows Strong Support

Development of the strategy was informed by an extensive public consultation, which attracted 1,397 valid responses.

Around 70% of respondents were Dorset Council residents, with the remaining 30% coming from the neighbouring BCP area.

According to council officers, the consultation demonstrated broad backing for the transport strategy.

Within Dorset, 72% of respondents supported the plan's overall vision and objectives, providing what officers described as a clear mandate to move forward with adoption.

Building a More Connected Dorset

If adopted by both authorities, the Local Transport Plan will provide the strategic framework for transport investment across Dorset and BCP for the next 15 years.

Alongside improvements to bus services, the strategy aims to strengthen connections between communities, encourage greater use of sustainable transport and provide the long-term certainty needed to attract future government funding.

For many rural communities, however, councillors acknowledged that success will ultimately be measured not by the strategy itself, but by how quickly new services begin appearing on the ground.