MPs hear call for subsidy protection to save transport in rural areas

MPs have been urged to recommend that the DfT prevents rural communities "become even more isolated and disadvantaged" by accepting the need for subsidies and obliging local authorities to provide core services.

Action with Communities in Rural England, which gave evidence to the Commons transport select committee, said that many rural residents without a car are struggling to access vital services such as health care and shops because of cuts in public transport.

The group's network of rural community councils run community transport schemes that try to plug gaps left by traditional services. But, despite the fact these schemes are "very well-used, some are struggling financially and finding it hard to recruit volunteers," ACRE said.

Janice Banks, chief executive, said afterwards: "The Government needs to accept that it is totally unrealistic for essential rural transport services to run without subsidies. Local authorities need sufficient funding for core services and to be able to give support to the volunteers who run community transport schemes."