Published on Tuesday 27 January 2026
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and Morebus are working together to secure bus services that matter most to residents.
More than 99% of the journeys made on the buses that receive Council subsidy are being protected as part of the proposals – with 1.3million annual trips helping to connect communities 365 days a year.
The cost of subsiding some routes, that aren’t viable for an operator to run without financial support, have nearly doubled in the past five years with costs continuing to increase. To provide best value for money for taxpayers, amid significant financial pressures, the Council has carried out a comprehensive review of the subsidised network: making sure it is sustainable for the future.
Residents’ priorities have been put at the heart of the new subsidised network – with nearly 3,000 people responding to the public consultation. Their feedback about the importance of key routes, such as Route One, the 18, and 36, has enabled us to target funding most effectively.
The proposals will be discussed by Councillors at BCP Council’s Cabinet on 4 February.
Under the plans, BCP Council and Morebus have worked together to secure the future of all 18 existing Monday-Saturday, Sunday and evening services that are currently subsidised – maintaining routes and keeping residents connected.
Some of these currently subsidised routes are now commercially viable to be run by Morebus without financial support.
Recommendations have been made to school-specific routes with two services, that have historically low use, being phased out in favour of existing alternatives; for the 2026/27 academic year there will be 30 school services still running.
The school route 40, running from Hamworthy to St Edward’s and St Mary’s schools, will stop running at the end of the current academic year. It is closely replicated by the existing 8 and 9 services. The 425, which is broadly mirrored by the existing 3x, 4, and 6 services, will no longer run from the end of the 2026/27 school year.
Students using these buses will still be able to travel to school using existing public bus services from Morebus that closely mirror the school routes.
The merging of the 46 and 81 services will also be considered to safeguard bus services for pupils travelling to Avonbourne Academies.
The proposed network would also see improved connectivity to Royal Bournemouth Hospital with additional services to and from Poole, Penn Hill, Lilliput, Westbourne and Bournemouth.
Adjusting the services and making some of them commercial shall reduce the cost of providing them by more than £400,000 per year. As a result of the review the Council has been able to demonstrate best value for taxpayers which, in turn, has unlocked the use of our Local Area Bus Grant (LABG) to protect the remainder of the network.
Cllr Andy Hadley, portfolio holder with responsibility for sustainable travel at BCP Council, said: “We know buses are a lifeline for local people across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – our residents have been telling us exactly that when we consulted on existing routes.
“Their views have helped us target our funding most effectively by working with Morebus to turn subsidised offerings into commercially successful services – meaning we reduce taxpayer contributions whilst keeping buses running.
“We’re having to make really difficult decisions because of pressure on the Council’s budget from rising SEND costs – something that should be for Government to fund - , an unhelpful financial settlement that has left BCP with less money, and a reduction in funding for buses across our three towns.
“The Government has at least given us the certainty of a three-year bus grant, allowing us to forward plan how we spend that funding.
"Our team has been working hard with Government officials to secure flexibility in the way we are able to use future grant funding and I welcome their recent change in advice that has allowed us to continue subsidising cost-effective school services.
“Despite these challenges, I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to work proactively with Morebus to protect and enhance more than 99% of journeys across our subsidised network.
“Bus subsidies are about preserving marginally economic services that are socially valuable, but also testing out changes that can in time become financially self-supporting
“This collaboration means we will be delivering on what residents have told us are their most valued services and keeping communities connected.”
Richard Wade, Morebus General Manager, added: "Customer satisfaction among those travelling by bus in the BCP area has scored consistently above 90 percent over recent years - making it among the highest-rated regions in the country.
“We are pleased to have worked with BCP Council to be able to recommend preserving such a high proportion of the existing network while creating new links relevant to today's needs. We have made significant investment in new buses, services, and our app over recent years.
“In addition, funding via the local authority from the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), to enable this is helping to ensure the region’s bus network and services are among the most comprehensive in the UK.”
In 2024/25, the Council spent £1.59 million in subsidies to keep 24 bus services running; £798,000 of this came from the Council’s core budget and the rest was from government grant funding.
Savings unlocked through Morebus taking on commercially viable services, and the Council effectively targeting its Local Area Bus Grant, will be reinvested in frontline services.
This could fund:
- More than 60,000 hours of support from carers for the most vulnerable in our society
- More than 1,000 weeks of foster care – providing vulnerable children and young people in our communities with a safe and supportive home
- 10,000 new picture books for libraries, Citizens Advice support for 17,000 residents, a year of wraparound care for 278 children, and 32 specialist SEND places
The Subsidised Bus Services Review report can be read, in full, here.