New community transport plans, how to find out more.

Suffolk’s new community transport arrangements will start on June 13^th.    

 These services provide a lifeline for those people, mainly living in rural areas, who do not have access to a car or public transport.

The services have recently undergone an extensive review and reorganisation which is aimed at providing a more efficient and responsive service.   Full details are available on the Suffolk Onboard website HERE..

A series of information events are being held across the county where residents can find out more.

The Babergh area event will be held on Friday 27^th May in the Dining Room at Hadleigh Town Hall between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.  Our area will be served by a combination of Hadleigh Community Transport and Sudbury based Go Start.

New website for Go Start

Go Start Community Transport, that provides vital local transport services in the Sudbury area has a new website.

The site is easy to use and gives full information about the services that Go Start offers.

Go Start works for anyone who is unable to use conventional bus services or other means of transport through disability, isolation, affordability or availability.  It operates within a 7 mile radius of Sudbury.

If you think you could use Go Start, and many are eligible, click on this link for information and more.

John Philips, the founder of Go Start with Phyllis Jones

Some good news on buses, for once!

Go Start, in partnership with the not for profit transport operator Go Ride CIC, has just proved that Bus Services can be re-instated!

A two mini bus hourly service between Colchester, Great Cornard, Sudbury, Long Melford, Lavenham and Bury St Edmunds  operated along the 753 weekday bus route on 4 December and will do so again on 11 December and 18 December.

Some 31 passengers took advantage of the service which is an excellent start and proves that demand certainly exists.

The buses serve regular bus stops, accept concessionary passes and charge regular fares.  I suspect that this meant that there was a certain amount of negotiation behind the scenes in order to overcome the inherent discrimination against community bus services that exist in the labyrinthine world of public transport provision.

For full details of the route etc. you need to go to www.goridebus.co.uk. 

While you are on the site it is worth taking a look at what this innovative not for profit organisation is all about.  In common with Go Start, their aim is to support the 25% of households without access to a car, and also to reduce carbon emissions.  Not bad aspirations!

Go Start News

I understand from the organisers of Go Start that some 180 residents in the area have now signed up for the service, and some of them come from Waldingfield Ward!

This is good news and I look forward to featuring the bright and shiny new vehicles that are to be purchased with S106 money administered by Babergh.

I could not help being amused by the picture above.  I know that local newspapers have a deep seated hatred of Conservative politicians, which is of course their privilege, but I really do think that they should draw the line at cutting us in half!  The picture would have been somewhat improved if I had been entirely excised.   Oh well.....half a photo opportunity is better than none!

Go Start up and running!

Residents of Waldingfield Ward who are over 60, disabled, or in some other way suffering from deprivation* can now register for the Go Start Dial a Ride service which is currently operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For a relatively modest return fare the bus will take you where you want to go within an eight mile radius of Sudbury, but registration is mandatory and you have to plan your journey and book your seat a little time in advance.  Forms are available from Sudbury Town Hall, or you can obtain one by post by calling the Go Start office on 01787 242116 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            01787 242116      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

I attended a meeting of the Go Start Trustees yesterday as an interested observer.  I am happy to say that the community transport organisation is moving towards being able to provide the Dial a Ride Service on a Monday to Friday basis.  The service should be fully up and running by the autumn.

The group is looking for volunteer drivers since it hopes to take delivery of further brand new vehicles in the months to come.  These are adapted for wheelchair use, and do not involve heavy lifting of seats etc. which has been a disadvantage for volunteer drivers  in the past.  Volunteers will be given full training.

*‘Deprivation' is a broad term and can simply mean living some distance from public transport without access to a car.

Readers of the blog may be interested to know that this is the 500th post since the blog started in February 2007.