Without regular access to a public transport service many elderly residents of this small Dorset village are now cut off from the outside World. Unable to run the costly expense of a private car , or being no longer able to drive, many relied on this hourly service to take them in and out of the village.

The village has no footpaths out of the village, nor has it any street lighting. As such even for the younger population it wouldnt be possible to travel other than by car or taxi in the evenings.

I have made this petiton to make it easier for those who have been affected  to

add their voice by signing  this to say they support the campaign to restore the No X51  bus service(Formerly X31) by First Group, running  through the daytime. We have currently lost this service. We are only asking for 3 daytime stops. One around 10 am to allow bus passes to be used, one both directions around 1 pm to allow morning and afternoon travel and finally one back late afternoon. This is a huge change from the previously hourly service and far more commercially viable and customer focussed.

Every signature counts here. First Group have told me it is no longer finacially viable to run this service, however surely everyone old or young has the right to the provision of public transport in these days of "Eco/Green environmental " leave the car at home times? Surely this cannot be right to deny transport to those who need it the most?

This was First Dorsets reply when I asked them:

First Dorset  Hi Jon, we receive no funding at all for the route through Martinstown. Not enough people in Martinstown board the bus to make it a viable option, and as we're a commercial business, it's a step we must take. Sorry to all affected. (DS).........

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This service is a social necessity for our communities and a bus company as large as the "First Group" should be ashamed of their actions in isolating rural communities. We should not be denied access to social and public transport and be provided with transport for all . Right now the old and young are being made to suffer through no fault of their own .