Elderly and vulnerable passengers that benefit from on-demand bus and taxi services met with Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood in West London today (17 October), to mark Community Transport Week.
The Local Transport Minister celebrated the work of operators as he visited Westway community transport in Westbourne Park.
The Minister heard first-hand how services step in to fill the gap where users might not be able to use conventional public transport or drive. This provides a lifeline, allowing users to attend vital hospital appointments, undertake important tasks like food shopping, and ensuring users can see friends and family.
To support services, the Government currently makes up to £3.8 million available annually to community transport operators. As plans to hand back control of bus services to local authorities gather pace, the Government is exploring how this initiative can incorporate the community transport sector.
Under these plans to deliver the biggest overhaul to bus services in a generation, this Government wants to grow passenger numbers and offer more frequent, widespread services, with scope for local authorities and community transport providers to work together to achieve this.
Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said:
“Community transport services are a lifeline for so many people, which is why I was delighted to visit Westway today to celebrate the incredible work of operators up and down the country.
“We’re committed to improving our local networks, to make them more inclusive and enable vulnerable people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity.
“Community transport plays a vital role in providing these services, so we are working to ensure they are part of the solution”
At the visit, the Minister also spoke to Westway Deputy CEO Ryan Price about ways that the Government can further support the great work of operators. For 30 years, Westway has played a vital role in connecting communities and improving lives across Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham, serving passengers who struggle to use the Tube, buses and other public transport.
