Warwickshire community transport funding is secured

Funding has been secured by Warwickshire County Council to continue to subsidise community transport.

Community transport, which costs the county council up to £200,000 a year to run, will be extended for another year.

A report was tabled at the council's cabinet meeting on Thursday outlining budget reductions in the service.

A total of £183,000 from the Department for Transport will be used to fund existing and new schemes in rural areas in the county.

'Excellent news'

Councillor Alan Cockburn, the council's portfolio holder for environment and economy, said: "This is excellent news for people who use community transport and we are committed to fighting to keep these schemes and to help to make them work.

"In areas where commercial bus services are not viable, these schemes can play a valuable role in helping to prevent isolation.

"The extra money will help us work in partnership with operators and communities over the next year to find ways of providing more flexible services in the future."

Norman Baker, minister for regional and local transport has allocated a total of £10m to rural local transport authorities to develop community transport services.

A review of Warwickshire's bus network is currently being carried out to find the "best value" services for passengers.

A council spokesman said the Conservative-led council is looking at which bus services can reach the most passengers for less money due to budget reductions in bus subsidies.

Mr Cockburn said the council's government grant for subsidising bus services is being reduced from £3m to £1.65m.