Bournemouth and Poole face two very different bus stories this autumn, as local MPs challenge planned cuts while new night services are being rolled out.
Bournemouth West MP Jessica Toale and Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan have written to the Leader of BCP Council, raising concerns about the removal of subsidised routes.
They say the number 36 service through Talbot Village, Kinson and West Howe is a lifeline for older residents who would otherwise struggle to reach shops, healthcare and community facilities.
Other routes under review include Poole’s 8 and 9 Hamworthy circulars and the number 20. These already run just once per hour, and the MPs warn that cutting them would leave many people without a realistic transport option.
Their letter questions the council’s Medium-Term Financial Plan, which states the bus subsidy budget will be gradually removed. The MPs argue this undermines the consultation process and risks isolating vulnerable residents. They also point out that BCP Council has received £6 million from government to sustain and grow bus services, with the national goal of boosting usage by half by 2035.
In contrast, Morebus has announced that from Monday 15 September, its M1, M2 and 5 routes will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. General manager Richard Wade said the changes respond to demand from shift workers and students, and aim to make buses more attractive than cars.
Other improvements funded by the Bus Service Improvement Plan include extra journeys on the 14 between Poole and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, additional Sunday services on the 16 and 17, and timetable reliability changes for New Forest routes. The Beach Breezer 70 will be withdrawn for winter, with the 33 route covering part of its journey.
The developments highlight a sharp contrast. On one hand, investment is helping expand services and attract new passengers. On the other, cuts to subsidised routes risk leaving some of the area’s most vulnerable residents without the buses they depend on.
