Moving Forward - community buses for the East Sussex Rural Transport Partnership
The Rural Bus Challenge project will provide funding for a number of community transport operators in East Sussex. The project seeks to contribute towards a reduction in the number of car journeys made by people who are making journeys to work, to railway stations, to schools and for weekend leisure activities.
This annual funding stream is administered by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) and is paid to local authorities for bids that offer cost-effective innovation in the provision or promotion of rural bus transport.
The East Sussex Rural Transport Partnership submitted a bid with East Sussex County Council in October 2000. It was entitled "Moving Forward - community buses for the East Sussex Rural Transport Partnership" and funding of £776,820 was awarded.
The money pays for five similar schemes with a common theme of reducing private car usage in rural areas. Each scheme has received a new £53,000 Optare Alero, 16-seat, super low floor minibus, equipped with a cycle rack. Three years of revenue funding will cover operation costs that include staffing costs (for drivers, co-ordinators and escorts), publicity and operational expenditure for:
The five schemes are:
North Rother/North Weald Project
(operated by Rye & District Community Transport)Crowborough Area Project
(operated by Community Transport, Brighton & Hove Area)Eastbourne Area Project
(operated by Eastbourne & County Community Transport)Lewes Area Project
(operated by Community Transport Lewes Area)Rye and Area Project
(operated by Rye & District Community Transport)The East Sussex Rural Bus Challenge project is managed by:
East Sussex Rural Transport Partnership
212 High Street
LEWES BN7 2NH
Tel: 01273 407329
