Dorset councillors calls for support for bus service between Seaton and Lyme Regis

A Lyme Regis councillor has called on Dorset Council to consider intervening over Stagecoach's decision to terminate the 9A bus service between Seaton and Lyme Regis.

Cllr Belinda Bawden, who represents Lyme Regis on Dorset Council, said the sudden decision has left many people in Seaton, Lyme Regis and the villages in between feeling anxious.

The 9A service between Lyme Regis and Seaton will cease to operate on July 31. The rest of the route between Seaton and Exeter will be unaffected.

Seaton-based company Axe Valley Mini Travel will be launching a new service between the two towns on August 1, with support from Devon County Council, but this will run less frequently.

Cllr Bawden said: "Many rely on the service to get to work, to attend medical, dental or hospital appointments, to go shopping, or for leisure travel.

"Devon County Council has agreed to subsidise the new service, but the majority of passengers are, we are told, from Lyme Regis.

"I hope that Dorset Council will also agree to provide support to retain an adequate bus service between Lyme Regis, Seaton and Exeter."

The Green councillor, who was elected earlier this year, said there would be an impact on community resilience, mental health, the cost of living crisis and the climate and ecological emergency strategy if people lost their jobs or had to increase the use of private cars when buses they rely on are withdrawn.

Dorset Council's highways and transport portfolio holder Cllr Ray Bryan said each bus route was considered on a case by case basis with the council's ability to help limited by finance – a position not helped by not winning any additional bus grant funding in a recent round of bidding, although neighbouring Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had been successful.

He said that improving bus services in the county was at the top of his priority list and having a system which provided an alternative to car use would also help with climate and ecological change policies.