This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Funding for transport in remote communities

28/12/2006

Funding worth £1 million to help those remote communities in Scotland who do not have access to regular public transport services was announced today.

• List of 11 rural community transport projects

Transport Minister Tavish Scott said that there was no one size fits all approach to transport and that imaginative local projects would be supported by Scotland's devolved government.

Mr Scott said:

"If you live in a town or city, it is easy to take the bus or train for granted. But for Scotland's remote communities, it is often a different story. This has got to change. Good, affordable transport services are vital to the quality of life of everyone in rural Scotland.

"There is no one size fits all approach, and imaginative local projects are the answer to the complex problem of providing transport in remote rural communities. This devolved government will support those projects.

"That is why 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."

Background:

11 rural community transport projects will share the £1,009,132 funding from the Rural Community Transport Inititative. Some of the money will go to new projects, some will go towards securing existing vital services.

The RCTI Steering Group (made up of members of local transport goups, local councils and volutary organsations) recommended the 11 projects for funding based on the following criteria:

• The aims and objectives of each project
• The value to the community, and in particular whether the project delivered additional community transport services for the area
• Support for people with special needs
• Partnership working with other bodies
• Other sources of funding
• Whether the project could meet their outcome targets
• The local authority's views (which are sought in all cases)

The RCTI was introduced in 1998. It is a Challenge Fund, open only to voluntary organisations. Its aim is to fund community transport measures which will be of particular help in the more remote areas of Scotland, particularly where there are no scheduled services, or where the services are very limited. The RCTI has funded a wide range of projects, mainly involving buses, but also including voluntary car schemes and some ferries.

In total, 165 projects have been funded over the 15 rounds of the scheme to date.

The announcement follows only months after the Transport Minister committed £7.4 million funding to similar innovative transport projects for Scotland's remote communities under the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant scheme.

Leverburgh Village Hall

Council: Western Isles

Proposal

This new project, based at Leverburgh on the southern tip of Harris, sought funds to replace their current minibus and to employ a part-time coordinator to manage the vehicle's usage. The minibus will benefit all local residents, enabling access to shops, post office, GP, pre-school playgroups, the local day centre, youth cafes and a wide range of groups. With no local public transport in the evenings, the minibus will enable access also to the new community sports centre in Tarbert, which is 22 miles away.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £33,641
• 2008-09: £1,320
• 2009-10: £1,315

Total: £36,276

Morvern Community Transport Association

Council: Highland

Proposal

This new project, based at Lochaline, sought funds to replace their community minibus and employ a part-time coordinator to manage its use. The vehicle will enable the remote Morvern community to interact with the wider community and improve social inclusion.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £45,480
• 2008-09: £8,978
• 2009-10: £8,761

Total: £63,219

Berwickshire Association for Voluntary Service

Council: Scottish Borders

Proposal

This existing project, based in Duns, sought funds to buy a small wheelchair accessible vehicle to accommodate an increase in single-user bookings, thus freeing their 2 larger minibuses to carry multiple passengers on other activities.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £15,645
• 2008-09: £None
• 2009-10: £None

Total: £15,645

Buchan Dial-a-Community Bus

Council: Aberdeenshire

Proposal

This existing project, based in Maud, near Mintlaw, sought funds to continue its community transport (3 minibuses and a community car scheme) services in the Buchan area of Aberdeenshire. These include a door-to-door shopping service, an alternative patient transport service and transport to a library and youth facilities in the evenings.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £None
• 2008-09: £133,195
• 2009-10: £118,098
• 2010-11: £127,378

Total: £378,671

Eriskay Community Council

Council: Western Isles

Proposal

This existing project, based on the Isle of Eriskay, sought funds enabling them to continue their lease of a community minibus for the benefit of all island residents. The minibus enables residents to access local social and leisure facilities, both on and off the island.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £6,675
• 2008-09: £6,675
• 2009-10: £6,675

Total: £20,025

Islay Disabled Endeavours & Actions (IDEA) Ltd

Council: Argyll & Bute

Proposal

This existing project, based at Bowmore on the island of Islay, sought continuation funds to maintain their community transport services on the island. These include providing dial-a-bus services and access to the IDEA Lunch Club and the MacTaggart Leisure Centre in Bowmore.

The project carries a significant number of passengers and many islanders would be disadvantaged without their services.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £19,862
• 2008-09: £None
• 2009-10: £None

Total: £19,862

Lochleven Community Minibus

Council: Highland

Proposal

This existing project, based in Kinlochleven, sought continuation funds to maintain their community transport minibus services for the benefit of all residents in the Ballachulish and Kinlochleven areas. The project also works in partnership with the community car scheme in Fort William to enable people to access the local shopping facilities in that town.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £8,610
• 2008-09: £10,197
• 2009-10: £11,371

Total: £30,178

Papay Development Trust

Council: Orkney Islands

Proposal

This existing project, based on the small island of Papa Westray in the Orkneys, sought continuation funds in order to maintain their winter evening and weekend boat services to the larger neighbouring island of Westray. These services enable the residents of Papa Westray to participate in a wide range of community activities with Westray residents, including educational and leisure pursuits.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £3,312
• 2008-09: £ None
• 2009-10: £ None

Total: £3,312

Stepping Stones for Families

Council: South Ayrshire

Proposal

This existing project, based in Girvan, sought continuation funding for their local taxi and community car schemes which provide access to work, education, training, health and leisure.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £62,614
• 2008-09: £64,007
• 2009-10: £58,855

Total: £185,476

Voluntary Action Lewis

Council: Western Isles

Proposal

This existing project, based in Stornoway, sought continuation funds to maintain its training and networking role throughout the Western Isles. The project also coordinates the provision of community transport in the Stornoway area.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £67,084
• 2008-09: £63,373
• 2009-10: £59,366

Total: £189,823

WRVS Rural Stirling

Council: Stirlingshire

Proposal

This existing project, based in Stirling, sought continuation funds to maintain its community car scheme in the rural areas of Stirlingshire.

Grant Awards:

• 2007-08: £22,273
• 2008-09: £22,206
• 2009-10: £22,166

Total: £66,645