This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for rural transport
19/10/2006
Remote communities in Scotland are to benefit from £7.4 million in funding, it was announced today.
The funding is this year's allocation under the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant, which is given to councils to introduce new transport services in rural communities, or upgrade and maintain existing ones. The fund has been increased by £1.1 million this year.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"This devolved government is committed to improving access to public transport to all areas of Scotland.
"By the end of 2006, 70 per cent of the 1.5 billion pounds we spend on transport will go towards improving public transport, bringing benefits to people up and down the country.
"Some remote communities still do not have the regular access to public transport that people in other parts of Scotland take for granted.
"This has got to change. Good, affordable transport services are vital to the quality of life of everyone in rural Scotland. The challenge we should set ourselves is to come up with even more imaginative ways of solving these rural transport problems.
"Demand-led dial-a-bus services have proven popular, as have subsidised taxi services - imaginative solutions to complex problems. But what more could we do?"
The Rural Public Passenger Transport (RPPT) scheme was introduced in 1998-99 as part of the Rural Transport Fund. The scheme aims to improve bus services in all rural areas and to provide greater help for the more remote areas. The scheme boosts transport accessibility in rural areas, improving connectivity and reducing social exclusion from transport services.
Funds have been distributed to all local authorities (LAs), except the 4 City Councils, according to a formula agreed with CoSLA in 1998. A revised formula was agreed with CoSLA for use from 2007-08.
Executive RPPT funding for 2007/08 is £7.4 million.
Local authorities (LAs) are free to spend their RPPT grants on whatever rural public transport services they consider most deserving of support. This could include introducing new services, upgrading or maintaining existing services. Scottish Ministers would like authorities to consider, where appropriate, demand responsive transport and/or community transport alternatives to conventional bus services.
Last year, councils received £6.3 million funding for a variety of projects. Some examples of projects which have benefited from RPPT funding detailed below:
Highland
- Introduced new wheelchair accessible dial-a-bus between Ardgay, Lairg and Rosehall.
- Introduced subsidised taxi service in Bettyhill - from March 2005 - continuing at March 2006.
Argyll and Bute
- Luing ferry service - additional summer ferry sailings between North and South Cuan linking the island of Luing with the mainland - introduced in 2003 and continuing at March 2006.
- Bus service between Tobermory and Craignure or Lochdonhead on the Island of Mull - introduced improvements to service in October 2004 and continuing at March 2006. Additional journeys to ensure ferry at Craignure had a bus connection with Tobermory, plus Friday evening minibus service from Lochdonhead to Tobermory for evening activities then returning to Lochdonhead late evening. Also winter service on Sundays between Craignure and Tobermory.
Aberdeenshire
- New rural bus service introduced on 15 August 2005 running Monday to Friday between Tarves, Methlick, Ythanbank and Ellon.
- Huntly to Inverurie bus service. 4 additional evening journeys each day between Monday and Friday and 6 additional evening journeys each day on Friday and Saturday - introduced in February 2003 and continuing at March 2006.
- New bus service between Aberchirder, Largue and Inverurie introduced in 2003/2004 and continuing in 2006 - provides 2 journeys on a Friday to the nearest shops.
Dumfries andGalloway
- Friday and Sunday bus journeys between Newton Stewart and Barrhill railway station introduced in 2003-2004 continuing at March 2006.
- Sanquhar to Cumnock - one journey Monday to Friday for work /college - introduced in 2002-2003 and continuing at March 2006.
- Newton Stewart to Stranraer - introduced 10 new bus journeys Monday to Saturday providing connections to existing local bus services - continuing at March 2006 from 1998-1999.
- Bus service from Lochfoot to Dumfries - new Monday to Saturday service providing 8 return journeys - introduced April 2005.