A summer bus service between Bridport and Monkey World will stop tomorrow (Saturday, September 4).

Bus operator has announced it will introduce service changes this month as it begins to introduce its winter timetable.

The Jurassic Coaster X52 which connected Bridport, Weymouth, Lulworth Cove and Monkey World will stop, with the X51 and X53 services also having changes to some school services from Sunday (September 5).

Bob Driscoll, of the Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG), said: "It was quite entrepreneurial of First Wessex to try a brand-new service like this [X52], particularly after the loss of business caused by Covid-19 and the reluctance of people to start using public transport again.

"It is being quite well used, I'm told, and I believe it plans to run it during the summer again next year.

"Apart from the novelty of using open top double deck vehicles, it provides a useful adjunct to the X53, which has meant that the route between Bridport and Weymouth via West Bay, Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury has had an hourly service seven days a week.

"From Sunday, September 5, the route will be served by the X53 only, meaning just a service every two hours for most of the day.

"We understand that First Wessex's winter timetable will start on September 25 and we are waiting for final details of its plans.

"With Dorset Council in discussion with bus companies and in the throes of preparing a 'Bus Service Improvement Plan', in conjunction with the National Bus Strategy launched last March, we hope the service offered will cater for the needs of those who require the bus service for work, shopping and leisure purposes."

Service 10 between Poundbury and Weymouth will also be reduced for the winter season from Sunday. The timetable is not yet on the First Wessex website.

From October 3, the X51, X53 and X54 will be reduced for the winter season.

Marc Reddy, managing director for First Wessex, said: "We would like to thank all our passengers who used our services over the summer period.

"We've received much praise for our expanded open topper fleet as well as the new livery of our Jurassic Coaster fleet, all of which have proved popular with holiday makers and our local customers.

"We hope that many people have rediscovered what a beautiful part of the world Dorset and the entire Jurassic Coast is, and that they plan to return for short breaks - and long ones."

Find more information about service changes here.

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