Massive investment in community transport announced
9 November 2007
The new Conservative Council has announced plans for a massive investment in community transport.
Under their proposals, South Gloucestershire’s 3 community transport groups will receive a total investment package of £150,000 to enable a significant expansion of their service and a fleet of new buses. This comes on top of the £115,000 increase in investment in transport in the community introduced two years ago. This investment forms part of the Conservatives plans to develop a comprehensive package of transport choices for elderly and disabled residents including an enhanced National Travelcard scheme, community transport, shopmobility, subsidised rail cards and the choice of taxi tokens.
Cllr. Brian Allinson, Conservative Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport comments,
“We are delighted to announce this major investment programme in community transport which will enable a fleet of new buses and service improvements. This major investment of £150,000 is on top of the extra £115,000 already invested in recruiting extra drivers and purchasing more buses.”
“Community transport provides an excellent service for those residents who are able to use it and we want to enable them to expand their services for these users. Having discussed it with all three groups it is clear that they warmly welcome our strategy of a sustainable and significant expansion of this service.”
“We will continue to work very closely with community transport groups to support them both through significant direct financial support and also by encouraging them to take Council contracts to provide them with additional income on top.”
“Every elderly and disabled resident has their own unique transport requirements which, is why we are committed to developing a broad package of choices and options to meet our residents needs. We recognise that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to transport doesn’t meet the diverse needs of our residents. This is why we are committed to introducing all the components our residents support including; an enhanced National Travelcard scheme, improved community transport, expanded shopmobility, subsidised rail travel and the choice of taxi tokens.”