POOLE residents who fear a ‘vital’ bus service is at risk have signed a petition to save the route.

Broadstone councillor Vikki Slade set up the petition after Yellow Buses pulled out of its contract for the council-funded H1/18 service early.

It follows the bus company’s announcement of a major overhaul of its services from April 8.

Cllr Slade said: “The 18 bus through Broadstone is at risk again. Please help us send a message to the council and the bus companies that this service is vitally needed – people in Springdale, lower Corfe Mullen, and West Way areas will be totally isolated without it.”

Poole council is putting the route, which connects Broadstone, Canford Heath, Upper Parkstone, Westbourne and Bournemouth, out to tender so it can continue to run.

Three other council-funded routes currently operated by Yellow Buses are also being re-tendered – the C1 from Bournemouth to Castlepoint, the D1 from Poole to Christchurch, and the U8 from Talbot View to Kinson.

Simon Newport, head of commercial, said Yellow Buses would be submitting bids for “all of the tenders available” and would be “happy to run them” should it be awarded them by the council.

“The council-funded H1/18 service is currently out to competitive tender.We ended the contract of this service early as we have three other subsidised contracts that end in May and we wanted to bring this one into alignment with them.

“This will create a stable position from which to bring in our revised network next month.”

Yellow Buses says replacement services will be in place from Monday, April 9, to “ensure an uninterrupted continuation of service for the majority of passengers.”

John McVey, passenger transport and sustainable travel manager, Borough of Poole, said details of the operator for the H1 service would be known later this month.

“We will be announcing the outcome as soon as we are able. The service number will revert to 18 as was previously used.”