Warwickshire News Mine

Community transport, which costs the county council up to £200,000 a year to run, will be extended for another year through extra Government funding.

A report was tabled at the county council’s cabinet meeting outlining budget reductions in the service. The additional money from the Department for Transport means that current schemes will now be continued into the next financial year.

Cllr Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economy, said:  “This is excellent news for people who use community transport and we are committed to fighting to keep these schemes and to help to make them work. In areas where commercial bus services are not viable, these schemes can play a valuable role in helping to prevent isolation.

“The extra money will help us work in partnership with operators and communities over the next year to find ways of providing more flexible services in the future.

“The extra year’s funding will enable us to kick start new schemes and give us more time to work with our community transport providers to explore other funding opportunities.”

Norman Baker, Minister for Regional and Local Transport has allocated a total of £10million funding to rural local transport authorities to develop community transport services in their area. Warwickshire will receive a total of £183,000 for one year which will be used to fund both new and existing schemes.

The Minister wants to see an increase of the many good examples of community groups and local authorities working together to deliver innovative solutions to rural transport needs.

Meanwhile, a review of Warwickshire’s bus network is being carried out to find the best value services for passengers.

Due to budget reductions in bus subsidies, the county council is looking at which services can reach the most passengers for less money.

Cllr Alan Cockburn added: 

“Our government grant for subsidising bus services is being reduced from £3m to £1.65m so we cannot continue to subsidise bus services to the same extent.

“We have managed to reinstate some funding so that it will be possible to retain some bus services which could otherwise have been withdrawn, such as all Sunday services. 

“Officers are currently making substantial revisions to the passenger transport network to ensure that the level of financially supported local bus services provided meets the needs of as many people as possible.

“It is too early to talk about specific services as we are about to enter into negotiations with operators over the future shape of the bus network. Once this is concluded, it is likely that the revised bus network will be in place within six months.”

Details will be published on the website soon at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk

Link to WCC