MP backs rural county’s lifeline community transport operators in dispute over licences
AN MP has urged the Government to “bear in mind the special circumstances that apply in rural areas like North Yorkshire” as it considers changes which could see not-for-profit community transport operations required to have a costly licence.
Rishi Sunak, who is MP for Richmond and was recently appointed Housing Minister, has written to Transport Minister Jesse Norman over the regulations governing community transport operators.
It is feared the Department for Transport (DfT) proposals, which could see not-for-profit community transport operations required to have a costly operator’s licence and their volunteers a commercial licence, may force many lifeline services off the road.
While the legislative changes would affect the whole of Great Britain, counties such as North Yorkshire and Durham with large rural areas are set to be hardest hit by the proposed move. Mr Sunak said he supported the position of North Yorkshire County Council, which has raised concerns as part of a consultation.
He said: “I have stressed to the Minister the need to bear in mind the special circumstances that apply in rural areas like North Yorkshire. While it is entirely correct that commercial bus operators should not be placed at a disadvantage, in rural areas the majority of the services provided by community operators are not commercially attractive.
“It is vital that we do not place unduly onerous administrative and regulatory burdens on small organisations, many of them run entirely by volunteers.”
The proposals had been sparked by a London commercial transport operator’s complaint to the EU, claiming it was facing unfair competition from community transport which used volunteer labour.