Derbyshire Connect services to be rolled out countywide
Community transport users will continue to receive life-line services as Derbyshire Connect buses are rolled out countywide.
Derbyshire County Council have pledged to continue supporting Dial-a-Bus (DAB)- style ‘shopping’ buses and aCTive Travel journeys to healthcare appointments.
These services are for people unable to use conventional transport because of mobility difficulties or because they live in areas − usually rural − where public transport is limited.
A new Derbyshire Connect service has been trialled in the Ashbourne and Wirksworth area since February. Contracts to operate the service across the county have now been awarded and will start in October − continuing to take people to supermarkets, shops, banks and medical appointments at hospitals, clinics, the doctors, dentists and opticians.
Councillor Trevor Ainsworth, Cabinet Support Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure at Derbyshire County Council, said:
“This is great news for community transport users. We are aware that there have been concerns among some passengers that their services were ending because funding was being withdrawn. This is not the case − funding is being provided in a different way.”
Councillor Ainsworth added:
“We know how important getting out and about is for people to retain their independence and we are clear on our commitment to continue to support the most vulnerable, particularly in rural and isolated communities, ensuring they have the same opportunities as they currently have, to travel to vital services.”
Funding for DAB and aCTive Travel services is currently provided by the council to the county’s six community transport schemes through grants.
Following a legal challenge, which makes it more difficult to provide funding in this way, the new Derbyshire Connect services will be run under contract.
Community Transport for Town and County (CT4TC), based in Chesterfield and Ripley, will run shopping buses in Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Erewash and North East Derbyshire.
And CDGi Training Limited − a specialist healthcare transport provider based in Eckington – will put on aCTive Travel services in Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.
Like the current DAB and aCTive travel services, the new Derbyshire Connect services will still need to be booked but will continue to run door-to-door with passenger assistants on hand to provide extra assistance, where necessary.
Councillor Ainsworth said:
“These new Derbyshire Connect buses will offer better value for money − around £7 per passenger to run compared to an average £16.57 for the current service − and provide a more customer focused service. Gold Card holders will also be able to travel for free − currently they have to pay − and in the longer term we expect them to develop into more flexible services to meet the needs of a wider range of customers.”
