New Community Transport Scheme for Copeland

People living in Copeland are set to benefit from a new community transport scheme being launched at Cleator Moor Civic Hall on Thursday, 7th August. 

The Copeland Brokerage, operated by North Cumbria Community Transport, is a minibus sharing scheme that offers affordable and accessible transport to community groups with a transport need and ensures that buses are used to their full potential for the good of the community. 

Councillor Kevan Wilkinson, County Council spokesman for transport, will be helping launch the scheme on Thursday. He said: 

"Community transport is a priority for Cumbria County Council and we have worked with a number of organisations to ensure that individuals and community groups in rural areas across the county have access to transport through brokerage schemes and voluntary car schemes. 

I am delighted we are now helping set up a brokerage scheme for Copeland. There are already a number of community transport schemes in the area and this new project will build on what already exists, extending community transport in this area. Brokerage schemes offer affordable and accessible transport to groups with a need and they also ensure community vehicles are used to their full potential, minimising the amount of time they are unused and providing an income to those groups." 

Funding for the scheme has been provided by the County Council and the Countryside Agency. Two new buses have also been bought for the project. One has been funded by the County Council's Copeland Local Committee and South Whitehaven and Cleator Moor SRB projects. This vehicle will be based at the brokerage office. 

The other bus, belonging to Haverigg Nursery, was funded by the county council and the Countryside Agency. It is hoped that other community buses will also come on board. 

The brokerage scheme is available to non-profit making organisations involved in social welfare, education, religion, recreation or any other activity of benefit to the community. Vehicles can either be made available on a self-drive basis or provided with a volunteer driver. Cumbria County Council has already funded a number of vehicles in partnership with the Countryside Agency and other organisations and it is hoped that these vehicles will take part in the scheme. 

A new project co-ordinator has been appointed for the scheme. Helen Sullivan, will be managing the new centre at Phoenix Court, Cleator Moor. As well as co-ordinating the scheme, she is also available to provide community groups with information and advice on transport issues including insurance, legislation, driver training and purchasing a minibus. 

Any community group who would like to register a minibus with the scheme or who has a transport need should contact the co-ordinator on 01946 812777