THOUSANDS of pounds have been ploughed into community transport providers to help limit the damage done by cuts to commercial bus services across the Malvern Hills area.
Malvern Hills District Council has revealed plans to invest an extra £15,000 a year in volunteer-run services to help residents continue to make essential journeys for work, shopping or health and leisure reasons.
The motion will be put before executive members tonight (Tuesday) and if approved, it will take the authority’s total investment in community transport to £50,000.
Councillors decided to act after First Bus withdrew services or reduced timetables on 17 routes across the district in September, leaving some residents with difficulties getting to work or hospital appointments and others fearing they would be left isolated by the changes.
At the time councillors from all political parties met Nigel Eggleton, managing director of First Midlands, to request changes were delayed to allow more time for alternative options to be explored.
This was declined.
Coun David Chambers, leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: “I’m delighted we’re able to put forward this additional funding which will go some way to addressing the problems caused by the recent cuts to services by First Bus.
“Our community transport providers do a fantastic job and offer a vital lifeline for people abandoned by the commercial companies by allowing them to continue to access employment, health appointments and connect with their communities.”
The council currently provides funding to several organisations operating community transport across the district, which includes anything from community buses and minibus hire to a community car scheme.
More than 5,400 households in the district do not have access to a vehicle and more than 1,300 of them are households where residents are in work.
Visit www.communitytravel.org.uk for more information about local schemes.
