Affordable bus travel plan (From Free Press Series)

Affordable bus travel plan

A NEW bus service for residents with poor access to public transport will be launched at the Monmouthshire Show.

Monmouthshire county council's new Grass Routes bus service has been made available following a successful bid to the Welsh assembly government for a community transport project through article 33 funding.

The new service will be launched at the Monmouth show on Thursday, August 26,2004, where the new low floor fully accessible vehicle will be on display.

The vehicle will run a regular route from Monday to Friday and will serve all the wards of central Monmouthshire, starting from Monday, September 6.

The vehicle is part of a scheme aiming to provide a safe, affordable and accessible community transport for all residents who don't have full access to the public transport network.

The service will be piloted in the six wards of Central Monmouth, Mitchel Troy, Overmonnow, Wyesham, Llantillio Crossenny, Vauxhall and Trellech united.

The Grass Routes bus will operate on a membership basis, it will cost £2 per year for adults, £1 per year for children with a special family rate of £5 per year for families up to five people.

There will be a charge of £1.50 per journey for adults and £1 per journey for children single or return. The bus has to be pre booked at least 24 hours in advance on a free phone number through a project co-ordinator.

The bus is also available to hire on evenings and weekends for small community groups.

The success of the scheme will largely depend on volunteer drivers who will be Midas trained, driving the bus for their communities.

If you are a potential volunteer driver please contact Richard Cope Community Transport officer on 01633 644745.

For full details of the scheme, membership application forms and route timings contact:- Monmouth OSS on 01600 775200.