Council grant secures future of West Dorset rural bus service

The CB3 serves Bridport, Melplash, Beaminster, and now South Perrott

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 16th Apr 2024

A £16,000 grant from Dorset Council has secured the future of a rural bus service in West Dorset.

The CB3 runs between Bridport and Crewkerne, but also serves Melplash and Beaminster.

The new funding also means stops will be added for the village of South Perrott.

Chairman of Beaminster Town Council, Craig Monks, helped to gain the grant funding, which will support the core revenue costs of the running the service. He said:

“I am delighted that Dorset Council has agreed to invest in our CB3 service, so we can continue in our work in running the CB3 but can expand our rural bus to South Perrott. Residents recently contacted me regarding the possibility of a service so I am delighted to announce that we have been able to deliver this rural service to them.”

Beaminster Town Council Chairman Craig Monks with West Dorset MP Chris Loder, and a CB3 bus

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has also welcomed the funding:

“This funding is brilliant news for the viability of the CB3, which offers an excellent bus service to those in Bridport, Melplash, Beaminster – and now South Perrott. I’m especially pleased that Beaminster Town Council have been able to extend this route into the village, and I encourage everyone along the CB3’s route to take advantage of this rural bus service.”

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.