News story

6th September 2001

MP Thanks Community Transport Workers

Northavon MP Steve Webb last night spoke at the second Annual General Meeting of the Vale Link Community Transport scheme that serves Thornbury and the surrounding villages, which was chaired by Cllr Eddie Gadsby. The MP told the meeting that Vale Link was greatly valued by local people, and that this had been very apparent during the campaign earlier this year to secure continued funding for the scheme. He said that amidst the gloom over delays on the railways, gridlock on the roads and unreliable scheduled bus services, community transport had been a “gleam of light”. He thanked the staff and volunteers for their time and commitment in helping the service go from strength to strength.

At the meeting it was reported that the number of people registered with Vale Link had risen sharply to around 700, and that the existing two minibuses were being very heavily used. The meeting also heard that plans are currently being prepared by South Gloucestershire Council in association with the other three Community Transport schemes in the area, to bid to central government for longer-term funding to secure and expand community transport services. Commenting, Steve Webb said:

“I am delighted to hear that the Council is bidding for long-term funding for community transport schemes across our area. Large numbers of local people are now coming to depend on dial-a-ride and other services for an accessible, affordable and convenient way to get around, and the schemes deserve to be given a long-term future. Once the bid is prepared I will certainly be pressing central government to put the funding of Community Transport onto a firm footing instead of its current hand-to-mouth existence”.



*** ENDS ***