News story

29th January, 2001

Community Transport Campaign gathers Momentum

The campaign to save South Gloucestershire’s threatened Community Transport schemes got off to a flying start over the weekend. Northavon MP Steve Webb joined Community Transport staff and volunteers in both Yate and Thornbury in gathering petition signatures on Saturday (27th January) and they received a very warm response from local residents. Over 1000 signatures have now been gathered, with more coming in every day from individuals and community groups who value the work that Community Transport schemes do. Steve Webb has also tabled a question in Parliament to ask the Government when an announcement will be made about the future funding of the schemes, and is expecting a written answer shortly. The whole funding of the Thornbury-based “Vale Link” scheme, and the funding for the Dial-A-Ride scheme run by Yate and District Community Transport are dependent on the outcome of the campaign.

Steve Webb said:

“We received a wonderful response to our petition campaign in both Yate and Thornbury. Local residents clearly value the tremendous work of Community Transport and want to see its future funding secured. It is quite unacceptable that the Government has allowed these local services get so near to the end of their funding without giving any clear indication about future finance. Important decisions have to be made about employing staff and leasing offices, and these cannot be made until the funding is in place. I hope that this petition campaign will show the Government that local people want Community Transport to be safeguarded as soon as possible”.


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