Rural transport policy and practice: Opportunities and solutions
- Date and time:
- Wednesday, 24th February 2010 at 9:30am
- Location:
- Manchester Central Convention Complex
As part of the Access10 event run by the Community Transport Association, the Commission for Rural Communities is running an event that considers the key role that community transport plays in rural areas and how it can form part of an integrated network and future government policy for rural areas.
Transport funding, policy, planning and regulation have all undergone change in recent times. What effect has this had on rural services and can community transport still continue to improve access and mobility for rural dwellers? This important one-day event will be hosted by the CTA in conjunction with the Commission for Rural Communities.
Topics to be covered will include:
- The scope for social enterprise: What future role can social enterprise play within the rural transport sector, how to take this forward and what conditions are needed to make this a success.
- What makes for successful operation: We will look at the different types of community transport operations and how they are set up to operate. What are their structures and what opportunities are available for them to source sustainable contracts.
- Examples of good practice: How are the successful schemes operating and what guidelines do they operate under? Can fledgling schemes look to the more successful operators for guidance or mentoring?
- Addressing social exclusion: What role can community transport play in helping individuals to overcome the mobility problems that exist in rural areas.
- Opportunities presented by the Local Transport Act 2008: The LTA 2008 enables community transport to engage more fully with the communities it wishes to serve. We will explore how organisations can utilise the changes within the Act to enable them to develop their services.
Further information on content, speakers and booking details is available at www.ctauk.org, where you can also pre-register any topics or questions you would like to see included on the agenda.
Comments
Major arteries between towns should have compulsory bus routes on them if there is no railway line; otherwise it risks community breakdown and causes towns to become insular. Too many bus operators refuse to do this on some routes because there aren't enough punters to make it profitable for them and this means many rural communities who would benefit from them have real difficulty getting anywhere without a car. I live in Ceredigion and it is surprising there is no regular bus that goes from Aberaeron direct to Lampeter. Walking back in the dark can be perilous given there isn't a footpath and there are no street lights most of the way along the busy main road. This puts me at a disadvantage, but what about those less fortunate than me such as the disabled and the elderly who might not be able to walk in such conditions? Taxi's aren't much use either because they are so expensive!
Thanks
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