Neighborhood transport danger: Shropshire Council signs up with battle for essential services

The council is to write to the Department for Transportation saying it supplies a lifeline to thousands.

It comes after reports that the DfT might insist that volunteer drivers for services like Dial-a-Ride must need to have a business licence which cost countless pounds and charities state, would put individuals off offering.

Community transportation groups, which offer an option to industrial bus services in locations where there is no bus path or for those who have mobility issues, run in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ludlow, Church Stretton, Broseley and Bridgnorth, with a fleet of 26 mini buses.

Shropshire Council's Neighborhood Summary Committee went over the proposed modifications at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Monday and set up a job and surface group to take a look at the Federal government propositions.

Transportation Commissiong Officer, James Willocks stated: "The proposed DfT Section permit consultation has actually brought into doubt the future of many community transportation groups. The assessment centres on the interpretation of whether these groups run for a revenue or their primary function is transport.

"If that is the case, then they would be needed to request a transportation operators licence or give up the existing commercial contracts leading to a shortfall in operating expenses."

Councillor Cecilia Motley said it seemed to be a 'dotty piece of legislation.

"We have to let the neighborhood groups understand that we are backing them and that we will fight their corner. We must look at ways of handling whatever the government chooses," she said.

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Ludlow Councillor, Andy Boddington, stated: "Neighborhood transport helps to keep individuals alive. It implies that they can go out and socialise and help prevent sensations of seclusion and loneliness which can cause depression."

Several councillors pointed out that in lots of rural areas of Shropshire there were no regular bus services.

Councillor Les Winwood said one service that could be lost was that taking a trip the A490 and serving towns like Richard's Castle.

"We require to let the parish councils understand that they could lose this service as part of our take a look at how we will deal with this."

Mr Willocks said that there might be Section 106 loan, from housing developments, that could be used to assist community transportation and stated it was essential to look at how it can be secured for the future.

"In Shifnal the town council is working with the Broseley Friendly Bus to provide neighborhood transportation in the location, it is a project that ought to assist everyone."

Linda Cox from Shrewsbury Dial-a-Ride said that if the Department for Transportation opts to carry out the changes then it might be dire for all of the neighborhood transportation groups throughout Shropshire.

"We have about 35 volunteers, a lot of them older and if they had to have commercial licences, none would be prepared to do it. They would just stop volunteering. If they stopped offering then we would stop running."

Source

http://shropshirestar.com/news/transport/2018/04/25/council-backs-community-transport/

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