Group formed to plan community buses network
Plans for the development of a community-run bus network in Renfrewshire have taken a step forward.
A working group has been set up – and it has received a cash injection to get things off the ground.
The Renfrewshire Community Transport Group is made up of local organisations and elected councillors with the purpose of addressing the issues experienced by passengers across the area over a lack of public transport provision to meet their needs.
The Express has reported on bus services in Renfrewshire being cut in the past year.
And local folk have decided they are not going to rely on private companies going forward and so have taken matters into their own hands. The group has been sharing best practice of how models for community buses work elsewhere and how these might be delivered in Renfrewshire.
Now there is a collective of local groups and organisations who want to take this forward.
And it has secured £25,000 for the creation of a sustainable business case to bring community buses to the area.
The money comes from Renfrewshire Council’s sustainable communities fund which aims to support local people and groups to develop sustainable projects that will promote and improve community collaboration, health and wellbeing, local spaces, economic development, biodiversity and the local environment.
The community transport group intends to work with a transport consultant on a detailed feasibility study to identify things like operating costs and what resources would be required to deliver a service so that they can make this become a reality for people in Renfrewshire.
Lesley Compston from the group said: “We are excited about the prospect of Renfrewswhire having a sustainable community transport system.
“We can now make progress with our plans and push on to establish
Support a much needed community bus service.
Deputy convenor of housing and communities, Councillor Robert Innes, said: “I am really pleased to see the Renfrewshire community transport group successfully applying to the sustainable communities fund – projects like this are exactly what this investment in our community is for.
“I’m excited to see the outcome of this feasibility study and how the group can make this a reality for people in Renfrewshire.”
“For too long, our bus services have been stripped back to the point that in some areas people are truly isolated because of public transport.
“With an ageing population in Renfrewshire, this should definitely be a focus not just for now but for the future.”
Councillor Andy Steel added: “We have been looking at creating community transport in Renfrewshire for a while now, and there are great ideas and enthusiasm to take this forward.
“It really is heartening to see the community transport group awarded this funding to continue working towards making our communities more accessible.
“The bus service is appalling in Renfrewshire, and anything we can do to improve that should be encouraged.
“My hope is that this funding from Renfrewshire Council will help the group and that this project can be something to look forward to for the area.”