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We are still 'open for business' at the RSN with all of our staff working remotely to stay safe. We will still be delivering our services to our customers, although we're having a little think about how to best enable our usual face to face meetings and seminars.

We are looking forward to chatting with you online! If you have a query please email admin@sparse.gov.uk and we will get back to you.

Stay safe!

05.08.2019

Spotlight on Vulnerability - Transport Edition (August 2019)

transport Vulnerability For the Press Barriers to Access Newsletters spotlight on transport

Welcome to the latest Spotlight on Transport - 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.

Rural transport faces many threats - ranging from fuel costs through to the lack of public and community transport in many areas.

The topic has rarely been bigger or more pressing.

Changes to public transport subsidies make community-run initiatives increasingly important.

Latest headlines:

Rural buses set for axe - but some escape cuts

31 July 2019

Bus services to some rural villages in Suffolk are to be cancelled after a lower budget forced the council to reduce support. (East Anglian Daily Times)

'Uber'-style bus plan for rural Tees Valley

17 July 2019

An 'Uber'-style bus network could be launched in Darlington and Teesside to ease transport woes in more rural areas. (Darlington & Stockton Times)

MPs back calls for National Bus Strategy

2 July 2019

MPs showed their support for local bus services and backed calls for a National Bus Strategy at an event held in the House of Commons. (Campaign for Better Transport)

MP wants solutions to keep rural bus services

4 July 2019

Plans to slash subsidies for almost two dozen bus services in Suffolk have been scrutinised by a local MP. (Suffolk Free Press)

Public transport 'should be more affordable'

20 June 2019

The cost of transport is putting significant pressures on those on lower incomes, and poor services can leave people isolated. (Third Force News)

Passengers highlight problems with rural buses

23 June 2019

Passengers have voiced concerns at the state of rural bus services that make them late for work and leave them facing 13-hour days. (Cambridge Independent)

Rural domestic violence victims 'lack support'

17 July 2019

Fewer transport links and difficulty in accessing services means ‘victims and survivors are being let down’. (The Independent)

Recommendations for future of school transport

16 July 2019

Moves have been agreed to make home to school transport in North Yorkshire fairer, more consistent and more efficient. (North Yorkshire County Council)

Key issues surrounding public transport

18 June 2019

A new report urges changes to the transport system to make journeys easier for people with mental health conditions. (The Independent)

Somerset spends £590k on transport for vulnerable people

20 June 2019

Somerset County Council is to spend more than £590,000 on replacing minibuses and people carriers to transport vulnerable people around the county. (Somerset Live)

Renewed school transport plea for villagers

18 June 2019

Renewed calls to resolve school bus issues in a Warwickshire village look to have foundered because the county council needs to be consistent. (Leamington Courier)

Transport service gets charity status

17 June 2019

A community transport service that rose from the ashes of a previous group has been given charitable status. (Littlehampton Gazette)

£74,000 campaign to replace Ryedale bus

1 July 2019

A key transport service in the Ryedale area is embarking on a massive fundraising campaign to buy a new minibus. (Scarborough News)

Community meets to discuss transport planning

27 June 2019

Parish and Town Councils have their say on Buckinghamshire's roads, pavements and road safety initiatives. (Bucks Herald)

Dial-a-Ride celebrates special anniversary

12 July 2019

Redditch Borough Council’s Dial-A-Ride celebrated 30 years of service with a tea party for more than 200 people. (Redditch Advertiser)

‘Lifeline’ hospital buses targeted by thieves

20 June 2019

Crooks have damaged two “lifeline” minibuses which transport residents to hospital and doctors’ appointments. (Harwich & Manningtree Standard)

Sponsored by Calor, the Rural Vulnerability Service is a FREE information service brought to you by the Rural England Community Interest Company in association with the Rural Services Network.

Calor was set up 80 years ago with the intention of bringing clean, efficient and modern energy to rural Britain. This focus continues today with 75% of Calor's business in the British countryside. Calor recognises the need to address climate change and energy efficiency and so has introduced bioLPG to the UK market in 2018, the first LPG supplier to do so. BioLPG requires no changes to the customer’s appliances, it just reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% and burns just as cleanly as fossil LPG.

Furthermore, Calor’s transport solution – LPG Autogas – can deliver significant air quality and environmental benefits, and at around half the cost of petrol and diesel benefits the hard-pressed motorist too. Over 150,000 motorists already benefit from this cleaner and affordable fuel, which is available from over 1,400 refuelling stations across Britain.

Disclaimer:

Articles in this newsletter are included for information only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Rural Services Network, Rural England CIC or Calor.