FOLLOWING the news that bus services in north Wiltshire are under threat, councillors are calling for innovative ideas to ensure the vulnerable aren’t left behind.

Due to a cut in funds from central government Wiltshire Council are looking at ways of reducing the cost of running buses in the region and are running a public consultation to inform how the changes to services can be made.

All services in north Wiltshire are currently subsidised by the council as they are not commercially viable, so the council is looking at potential alternatives to the current situation.

Wiltshire Council member Chuck Berry spoke up at the recent Malmesbury Area Board meeting to suggest alternatives to buses that would ensure the council meets its required savings.

He brought up the idea of introducing an Über style system in the region. Über is a mobile phone application that allows people to ask for lifts from drivers in their vicinity. Drivers are notified about the person’s request and current location so they can pick them up.

Cllr Berry said: “If you had bunch of people living in villages who were on an approved list, they could said ‘I want to go to Malmesbury on Friday’ and it just be a question of pooling that request into a real community transport scheme.

“There have been half attempts at this such as the Wigglybus which goes off route to pick people up.

“I think in the ideal world you’d want a fully-fledged Über style service that locals can access easily, even those that aren’t digitally able.

“There must be a way of getting a legitimate transport service that would work and get us over lack of discretionary subsidy for transport.

“We need to consider stuff we wouldn’t normally.”

Wiltshire Council member Simon Killane commented on the idea, saying: “If combined with a really good community transport scheme it could work.

“Malmesbury has got a load of disjointed community bus schemes. We should combine them together, then that would be good way of bringing flexibility.

“The problem we have is getting volunteer drivers to sign up. It might be good way of getting more volunteers involved if there is increased flexibility.

Malmesbury Town Council member Gavin Grant was more sceptical about the idea of community buses when the review was first announced.

He said: “Any community transport scheme, which I’m sure will be great, needs to be set up, running and proven before any changes are made to services.

“These schemes are a great addition, but rarely a true alternative, to buses.”

Philip Whitehead, cabinet member for transport at Wiltshire Council, said:
“We are grateful for any ideas people bring to us during the consultation period, however we will wait until the consultation is complete and everything has been evaluated before making any comment on specific schemes”.

Residents can take part in the consultation, which runs until April 4, by picking up copies in council offices, libraries and on buses, by calling 0300 456 0100, or online at wiltshire.gov.uk/news/articles/bus-service-consultation