Randwick bus service update and minibus sharing?

Blog readers will remember that back in April just before I was elected the bus service stopped going along The Lane in Randwick - you can read more by looking at the old blogs: 17th May, 17th June and 21st June - basically this is had an impact on several people who now no longer can get to Stroud.

Photo: village bus in Bread Street

While I was able to arrange Ring-a-Ride to cover the village centre this is still wholly inadequate - and costs lots. I had also explored the Village Link bus service that operates like a taxi in some parts of Stroud but instead of expanding this popular and well used service to our area the County are cutting the service completely - the Government grant hads dried up.

Last month I had a meeting with 2 women from Randwick in Whiteshill Village Coffee Shop with Village Agent Pam Thorne to explore ways forward re the Randwick bus not going down The Lane. Yesterday I had another meeting with Pam. I suspect we will be putting concerns to the Parish Council seeking their support to take this issue forward: is there a way to get the bus back? What alternatives exist? There are few ways forward, but we need to make sure we have looked at all options and made clear our views to policy makers.

Photo: empty buses threaten viability of services that are already reduced

I have been reluctant to look at alternatives like a regular minibus until we have ruled out getting our bus back - a minibus used regularly could impact negatively on the already underused bus service. However it maybe a way forward for a local group to establish and run a bus once a week? Certainly it is a wonderfully positive scheme that could open up opportunities to people locally.

Minibus Sharing?

Vision 21, a community-based sustainability organisation, has received £35,000 from the Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance initiative to expand the existing urban Minibus Sharing Scheme, which currently operates in Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Vision 21 director, Graham Stanley, who lives in Ebley, said: "Many schools, colleges and village groups have saved up and bought their own minibuses, but don't use them all the time. This scheme aims to 'borrow' these minibuses when they're not being used, to help people get out and about. The Minibus Sharing Scheme could, for example, give a parish council the chance to organise regular visits to the nearest town for young people to go to the cinema, or to go bowling. Or a WI could hire a minibus for a theatre trip; primary schools might need minibuses to take the children on an educational visit, or a group of older people could hire one to take them to a tea dance in Cheltenham."

Certainly the minibuses could provide a lifeline for those who find travel difficult. Many local groups can't afford to buy a minibus, but would be glad to hire one and of course the scheme could reduce the cost of transport for clubs, groups and schools. By sharing the resource, they can get more use out of it, benefit their local community and earn a little income. It also provides a stronger case when applying for funding for a replacement vehicle in the future.

I'm waiting to hear back from Pam and the Randwick women who were concerned re the cut to the service in The Lane.