Billingshurst Community Partnership Steering Group
(A formally constituted body)

Issue 1 August 2004.

Response to the request for outline projects (Regional Partner’s Group – South East Rural Towns Partnership)

Billingshurst Healthcheck Process “TRANSPORT

Project Title: Local Bus Project

This project, developed through the Billingshurst Healthcheck process has reached a stage where funding is required to take the project forward.

Location: Billingshurst West Sussex

Description:

In voluntary terms this community is served by a Community Mini Bus Association which has been running for nearly 30 years, and the recently established Billingshurst Community Transport scheme.

Healthcheck research and consultation reflected that, in this rural area, other sections of Billingshurst and the surrounding hinterland have a need for assistance with transport services.

The Local Bus project stems from:-

- Billingshurst is a focal point for services to the outlying communities such as

o Secondary school education

o Banking and financial services

o Doctor’s surgery.

o Dental and ophthalmic services.

o Shopping and other facilities

o Night school and other leisure activities.

- The “Healthcheck” process, where the issue of improved local transport was raised by many through the numerous public consultation meetings held.

- An awareness that local bus services are restrictive and do not always meet public need.

As a result the Community Partnership has accepted this issue as a key project. A further, well attended meeting has been held. From this a small representative working party has been established to review options and make recommendations.

Target Group:

It has been agreed that the target audience should be all those in this rural area who do not have access to a car, and where public transport is not a viable alternative. (Whilst this is the primary aim, a secondary need is to reduce car journeys where possible). Therefore whilst the project formally falls under Action Plan item 6 – Rail and Bus Services - this project in overall terms targets the Young, Elderly and the Disadvantaged, the infirm and the disabled in our community, addressed via Action Plan item 10. Hence amongst other considerations this demonstrates the cross fertilization aspect of our Action Plan.

Funding Required:

Whilst four options have been considered (see explanatory note below) the project concentrates on a Demand Responsive (D.R.S.) Shared Taxi service. The working party has concluded that this Shared Taxi option has maximum flexibility if satisfactory arrangements can be made with a local taxi group. (The proposed service will be introduced as a pilot exercise for a period of “months”, the length of time still to be decided, and following this “pilot period” the demand and passenger response will be assessed. The D.R.S scheme can then be compared with the other three options to take into account demand, passenger views and costing.)

The service proper would use fixed departure/arrival times which would generally allow for collection/delivery to specific points. The main aim would be to improve travel within the Billingshurst Hinterland and the developing Billingshurst community. Population growth is currently, within Billingshurst, some 7,500 and this is projected to reach 10,000 in the next two years or so. Taking into account the outlying areas the total target group population is some 12,000 to 15,000.

For a service operating 11.00 – 15.00 for two days a week plus two evenings a week it is estimated the cost would be £24000 and upwards.

Note: Each extra day costs would increase on a pro rata basis to, say, £75000 for a seven day a week service

Time Scales:

The objective is to launch this service some time in 2005.

SEEDA Economic Outputs:

This project meets R1 – Improved rural services as set down in the Government Rural White Paper. C1 – New net Jobs created. C4A – New Business. S2 Business requiring Specialist Advise and S6 training on Management of the Scheme.

Note for explanatory purposes:

For the record, and to reflect our broader considerations, three other options have also been considered before deciding on the Shared Taxi scheme as the pilot exercise. These are as follows:-

Option 1. A demand responsive service (D.R.S.) using a 16 seat mini bus through a commercial operator. This would aim to operate six days a week linking outlying communities to each other and to Billingshurst. It would include an evening service for young people on Friday/Saturday.

Estimated cost (by W.S.C.C.) £108000 p.a.

Option 2. A D.R.S operated by the local community two days a week 11.00 to 15.00 plus two evenings. Operated through the local community Transport operator or W.S.C.C., through whom a paid driver would be employed. The difference between this and Option 1 is the added flexibility provided by local control but, against that, the added administrative and volunteer time required.

Estimated cost £20000 p.a.

Option 3. Use of a Social and Caring Services/ Educational vehicle. Using a mini bus through non operating hours this D.R.S. would, of necessity be restricted to available hours, and also restricted by ease of access to the vehicle. Whilst being considered as a cost effective option it may turn out to be a non-starter logistically

Estimated cost in the region of £20000 for a two day/two evening p.w. service.