26/11/03 - Rural Wheels Scheme Extended

Rural Wheels, the pioneering scheme for serving the transport needs of people in rural areas in South Lakeland has been extended. Rural Wheels has been running since 2002 and now, after wide consultation with those involved in the scheme, the following improvements are being made:

• Four new parishes will be included in the area covered – Kirkby Ireleth, Upper Allithwaite, Staveley in Cartmel and Skelwith
• Residents eligible for the scheme will now be able to travel in and out of Ambleside 
• The Smart Card equipment has been improved   

Rural Wheels uses a number of different transport providers.  People are issued with a smart card and a telephone number to request transport up to 24 hours ahead.  Users do not need cash. They buy points (30p a mile) at several outlets in the area, including libraries and post offices, to pay for the transport. It aims to provide a highly flexible ‘door-to-door’ service using a combination of various modes of transport at a reasonable cost.

The scheme, which receives funding from Cumbria County Council, the Countryside Agency and Help the Aged, has been operating in the following parishes: Coniston, Hawkshead, Torver, Blawith and Subberthwaite, Satterthwaite, Claife, Colton, Haverthwaite, Lowick, Osmotherley, Mansriggs, Egton with Newland, Lower Allithwaite, Broughton East, Grange over Sands, Lower Holker.

More information about Rural Wheels is available from Duncan Fletcher, Rural Wheels Co-ordinator (tel 01228 606721), or Dianne Whitehead, Neighbourhood Development Officer (tel 01229 894103).