This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Funding for community transport projects
30/12/2003
Twenty voluntary projects will benefit from funding
totalling £1.38 million to provide community transport in
rural areas, it was announced today.
The funding from the latest round of the Scottish
Executive's Rural Community Transport Initiative (RCTI)
helps voluntary organisations to provide community
transport in rural areas where public transport is
limited.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"Scotland's communities have diverse transport needs and
these awards totalling £1.38 million will help voluntary
organisations provide vital services to people across the
country who do not have access to a car or regular public
transport.
"The RCTI grants provide funding for new projects and
continuation funding for existing projects such as
community minibuses, dial-a-bus services, local community
transport co-ordinators and voluntary car schemes.
"These help a wide range of people including the less
mobile, elderly and youth groups living in rural areas to
access many services, giving them the independence and
freedom many others take for granted."
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs, Allan
Wilson said the awards would provide enormous benefits to
rural communities. Mr Wilson
said:
"The Executive is committed to improving transport in
rural areas. It is absolutely vital that transport links to
rural communities are secured and improved to ensure people
do not feel isolated. Community projects can often bridge
the gap in remote rural areas, where public transport links
are limited, making a real difference to the quality of
life for local people."
Twenty five applications for funding were received in
this round. A total of £9.48 million has been provided to a
total of 142 rural community transport projects since the
scheme was launched in August 1998.
This year's successful applicants cover a wide part
of Scotland. These include three projects in the Western
Isles, two each in East Ayrshire, Highland, Aberdeenshire,
Shetland and Dumfries and Galloway, and one each in Argyll
and Bute, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South
Lanarkshire, Orkney, Stirling, and East Lothian. Ten of
the awards are for continuing funding to projects supported
by earlier rounds of the scheme.