Extra cash for crucial rural transport service

Investment in DRT lifeline is welcomed

Trossachs and Teith councillor Martin Earl has welcomed investment by the local authority in rural transport schemes.

Demand-responsive transport (DRT) essentially operates as a taxi service in remote areas where there is little or no public transport. The service can be used at the cost of a bus fare rather than a taxi fare.

And Councillor Earl believes investment in such schemes in the latest Stirling Council budget, which was passed last week by 12 votes to eight, will be of real benefit to people in his ward.

He said: “Investing in the DRT schemes is really important and the extra money allocated can help in a range of ways.

“We need to make sure existing areas are sustainable, expand them to provide greater coverage and extend the booking system to allow transport to be booked later every weekday and at weekends.

“DRT is a vitally important service for our rural areas. It is often the only way people can get around at an affordable cost, access bus services and take them to and from their jobs.”

The scheme was one of a number of projects included to receive a chunk of £650,000 funding.

Among the others were old age isolation, sustainable repairs to roads and footpaths, Hill Street improvement and credit union development.

Councillor Earl was also positive about news of a £1.8 million investment in social care services.

He said: “In the rural areas we must address the growing problem of not enough carers being available.

These people do a fantastic job and we need to ensure more people are able to take up this profession.

“Providing this care is often challenging, due to the distances involved, but what they do is a lifeline and helps many elderly and vulnerable people stay in their own homes for as long as possible..”

The Observer reported on Wednesday that councillors unanimously agreed more than £17 million investment in capital projects, including flood schemes, renovation of school and community facilities, internet connectivity and sport.

Of this £2 million will fund projects to support the City Region Deal, including investment in both rural and urban areas.

Council leader Johanna Boyd said: “This budget aims to protect the vital services Stirling Council provides while ensuring that we also protect the pockets of Stirling’s residents.

“We are dedicated to improving Stirling’s urban and rural infrastructure and our commitment to fund various capital projects over the coming year will mean that various areas will benefit.”

Councillor Boyd said the authority has to make savings of £47 million between 2012 and 2022.

SNP group leader Scott Farmer described this figure as “fanciful” and argued that the Scottish Government had cushioned the blow of Westminster cuts for Scottish councils.

Green councillor Mark Ruskell said: “This new spend comes directly from the budget concessions delivered at Holyrood by the Greens.”