Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Rural Vulnerability Service - brought to you by the Rural Services Network and the Rural England CIC in association with Calor.

The vulnerability service aims to disseminate information about three key rural issues: fuel poverty, broadband and rural transport.

Latest updates:

Number launched for transport partnership

A new community transport booking and advice line is being launched by East Surrey Rural Transport Partnership
(Edenbridge Chronicle)

Councils to share £25m for bus services

Local authorities across Wales are to share £25m to help support local bus services.
(LocalGov)

Bus firm invests £1m in public transport

A bus company has announced it will invest £1m into new routes and buses when it takes over services previously run by Stagecoach.
(Eastern Daily Press)

Town council offers free bus service

Stone Town Council is providing a free bus service to local post offices following the closure of the current high street outlet.
(Stone Gazette)

Fresh campaign to improve Burton Bus Service

A new appeal for a more frequent bus service for the village of Burton, near Christchurch, has been launched by the Bus For Burton campaign group.
(The Breaker)

Demand for more buses in Yorkshire Dales

Rural campaigners want to see less cars in the national parks - such as the Yorkshire Dales - and more public transport options.
(Craven Herald)

Rural bus service helps put people before cars

A transport group has challenged West Oxfordshire District Council to ‘put people before cars’ by finding a way to expand bus routes to villages without a service.
(Oxfordshire Guardian)

Commuter 'horror stories' as bus network shrinks

The distance travelled by local bus services in Wales has dropped by 20% in 10 years, BBC figures show.
(BBC Online)

Groups share grants worth £64,000-plus

Community projects across the Borders have been given more than £64,000 of National Lottery cash to share.
(Southern Reporter)

Charitable foundation donates to Wheels 2 Work

Yorkshire Building Society in Malton has donated £1,999 to Wheels 2 Work Ryedale to allow the charity to buy another moped.
(York Press)

'Pensioners should pay to keep community buses running'

An elderly blind man has called for a rethink about how pensioners use community transport.
(Witney Gazette)

Campaigners welcome new community bus service

A NEW community bus service set to launch in West Oxfordshire has been welcomed by transport campaigners.
(Oxford Mail)

Vital transport links are in ‘dire’ state

Good public transport links are part of a wider provision of services that is needed to ensure young families want to remain in rural areas, say campaigners.
(Yorkshire Post)