Residents get on board to save village buses

The community transport service based in Hawes had been due to become a victim of North Yorkshire County Council’s attempts to save £69m to counter government cutbacks.

But in what is thought to be the first scheme of its kind in the country, the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership has successfully bid to operate the services for Hawes and the surrounding villages.

The council’s executive member for public transport, Councillor Clare Wood, claimed the move could be used as a blueprint to preserve other at-risk services.

She added: “Our officers have a good track record for developing innovative and affordable solutions to difficult problems. Community-based solutions are perfect for our rural areas and the solution for Hawes is transferable to other areas of the county where access problems persist.”

The service operates in Hawes and villages in about a 10-mile radius, providing transport to residents for journeys including shopping trips and GP appointments.

Coun John Blackie, who represents the Upper Dales on the county council, said: “This is another example of the local community in Hawes, famed for its self-reliance and independence, working together to find a win-win solution.”

The council’s assistant director of integrated passenger transport, Richard Owens, admitted that funding will still have to be cut by at least £10,000 from the current level of about £25,000.

But he stressed services will be “better targeted and more cost-effective” and will run every day of the week instead of the current situation where a 16-seater vehicle operates from Monday to Saturday.

A Monday-to-Saturday scheduled service will also be maintained to transport passengers between Hawes and Garsdale Station on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle railway.

The community partnership will provide drivers and a booking service for a seven-seater minibus from the county council.

The council has estimated that the current service is costing £7.50 to run per passenger.