Residents of north Carmarthenshire will soon benefit from a new community transport service being launched in the county.
Bws Ni will provide pre-planned transport for community groups in the north Teify Valley area to help them access services and to complement existing public transport links.
It will be the first community transport initiative of its kind in rural Carmarthenshire, and will benefit almost 90 community groups by offering reduced transport rates.
Funding for the minibus has been approved by Carmarthenshire County Council under the Rural Development Plan (RDP).
The service will be run by the Teify Community Transport Association, and groups will have a central booking number.
It will be supported by Carmarthenshire County Council, the Community Transport Association, Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Rural Transport Association and the Carmarthenshire Association for Voluntary Services.
Craig Thomas, Carmarthenshire County Council community regeneration officer, said: “This project is an excellent example of partnership working. It has been a pleasure working alongside the other partners to provide the first community transport scheme of its type for Carmarthenshire. It is fully accessible and will be available to all, providing an invaluable service to the whole community. I hope it will be the first of many for the county.”
Local member Cllr Fiona Hughes has backed the scheme from the start.
She said: “I am thrilled we have been able to develop a scheme to maintain an essential form of community transport in this rural area. I hope that community organisations will now come forward and register for the new scheme.”
The Rural Development Plan, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, helps rural communities by funding projects which help people to access services and develop distinctive identities.
The Bws Ni scheme was successful under Axis 4 of the Plan, which aims to improve access to services through innovation.
Axis 4 supports ground-breaking, innovation community-led projects focusing on the themes of community transport, Information Communication Technology (ICT), community retail services and childcare.
It could include feasibility studies, community enterprise or cross-border initiatives.
Cllr Clive Scourfield, executive board member for regeneration, said: “This is a very worthwhile scheme which will help residents of the North Teify Valley stay better connected. We were pleased to approve funding for this scheme, and hope that it develops in the future.”
Community groups in the north Teify Valley who wish to use the scheme can call 0845 686 0684 for further information.
The Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
