Community transport groups receive £100k in grants

OurBus Bartons has won a £20,000 grant

Nine community transport organisations have received more than £100,000 in council grants.

Oxfordshire County Council has awarded amounts, ranging from £2,730 to £21,000, to help keep the groups' "vital services" going.

The money will be used to fund drivers, operating costs, recruiting and training volunteers and promotion, the authority said.

Among those to receive the money is OurBus Bartons, which operates a partially electric service and has been given £20,000.

Richard Brown, chair of trustees of OurBus Bartons, said: "We are one of the first community transport operators to use electric buses on timetabled services.

"We are delighted to receive this grant as it will allow us to maximise the way in which we will use our new electric buses as they settle into service."

The other groups include the Volunteer Driver Service in north Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire’s Volunteer Link-Up, Didcot Volunteer Drivers and Wallingford Volunteer Drivers.

Community transport is usually run by volunteers and plays a key role in filling gaps where public transport is not available, the council said.

Councillor Andrew Gant, who is in charge of transport, said: “Oxfordshire’s community transport sector is a lifeline to many people.

"The grants will make a big difference to all nine organisations and help them to continue the fantastic work they are doing.”