Rural transport
East Sussex Community Transport Operators group
Rural Transport
Transport and access to services is one of the biggest concerns for many people living in rural Sussex. It impacts on people's access to employment, education and key services including social care and leisure and recreational facilities. The transport provision in rural areas is often a mixture of public transport and community transport.
Although there is a continued increase in car ownership in rural areas, there is still a widespread need for public transport in rural areas as many people without cars in rural communities are vulnerable to isolation and social exclusion.
What do we do?
Action in rural Sussex works with rural communities and other agencies to overcome difficulties associated with transport provision and accessing essential services in rural East and West Sussex.
We provide advice and support on rural transport issues to:
- Identify local transport needs and solutions that promote social inclusion in rural Sussex;
- Help rural communities access employment, retail facilities, health and social care facilities, education, training, leisure and recereational activities, and information and advice services;
- Encourage the use of existing public and community transport;
- Develop and support community transport services to deliver local solutions;
- Encourage alternative transport solutions to reduce car use, by raising the profile of public and community transport, cycling and walking;
- Influence those organisations involved in transport services in Sussex, to ensure access for everyone;
- Represent the transport needs of rural Sussex communities at a local, regional and national level;
- Increase the quality and availability of public and community transport information in rural Sussex.
Action in rural Sussex is committed to improving rural transport through partnership working and operational work delivering specific transport projects. We also offer advice and support to both existing transport schemes and help establish new schemes.
Action in rural Sussex works with partner organisations on rural transport issues in both East & West Sussex. In East Sussex, AirS through the Village Care Team supports new and existing voluntary car schemes and co-ordinates the Weald Voluntary Car Forum. We also co-ordinate the East Sussex Community Transport Operators’ Group and are an active partner in the Down Your Way project, the West Sussex Forum for Accessible Transport and the Sussex Community Rail Partnership.
If you would like more information, please contact
Teresa Gittins, Head of Strategy and Communications
Tel: (01273) 405442 Email: teresa.gittins@ruralsussex.org.uk
Down Your Way Project
In 2003, East Sussex County Council was awarded £574,000 worth of Rural Bus Challenge funding to develop and implement a demand responsive transport system capable of being used by a range of transport operators in Sussex.
Down Your Way is the name of the project that secured Rural Bus Challenge funding. The Down Your Way project grant will fund the development and implementation of an ICT system that will initially help East Sussex Community Transport Operators’ improve their booking, scheduling and dispatch operations. If successful, this ICT system will be extended to serve other operators, including commercial bus companies, social services vehicles, local taxi operators and voluntary car schemes, improving the transport choices available to vulnerable people living in rural areas.
For further information, please contact:
Teresa Gittins, Head of Strategy and Communications
Tel: (01273) 405442 Email: teresa.gittins@ruralsussex.org.uk
Public Transport
Public transport consists of commercial bus and rail services, and those needing subsidized support from the County Council. Where buses and trains are not the answer, alternative community transport solutions may be able to provide access to key services for people with transport needs. Due to the lower population densities and greater distance from service centres, there is a limit to what public transport companies can deliver in rural areas. Some companies may extend or adapt an existing service if a good case is put forward.
Local Transport Information is available from:
The county websites also contain information on all public bus services including timetables and information on:
‘Quality Bus Partnerships’: Local Authorities and the service providers work together investing in infrastructure and new modern vehicles can make a considerable difference.
‘Socially necessary’: Transport services which are prioritised with the necessitiy of the service, for example: school transport being a priority and evening and weekend services having a lower priority.
National Transport Information is available from:
Traveline provides impartial journey planning information about all public service transport services throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Tel: 0871 200 2233
National Rail Enquiries provides rail travel information on journey planning, ticketing, disabled travel and train company information for cyclists.
Community Transport
In many rural areas of Sussex, public transport is not helping people access essential services and so alternative community transport solutions develop to meet their needs. Community Transport helps fill gaps in the rural transport network at a very local level and plays a vital role in meeting the needs of vulnerable people living in rural areas. Where for a number of reasons, there is little or no public transport or it is inaccessible to them.
Community Transport initiatives are flexible and varied because they respond to a local ommunity’s transport needs, but they must to work within the law and operate safely. Community Transport initiatives can benefit anybody and everybody although in practice, most community transport services in East and West Sussex tend to cater for older people, people with disabilities and sometimes young people.
Community Transport initiatives can reduce car use and provide a range of transport services to individuals, community groups and voluntary organisations.
Community transport covers a broad range of provision including community minibuses, voluntary car schemes, car clubs, taxi vouchers and many other alternatives. Click here for details of community transport providers listed in West Sussex's Community Transport Directory.
In East Sussex, copies of the 2007 community transport directory are available from local libraries. Click here to contact the main minibus community transport operators in East Sussex link to East Sussex Community Transport operators
Further technical advice on Community Transport, information on the legal requirements and details of how to set up a Community Transport scheme is available from the national Community Transport Association.
East Sussex Community Transport Operators group
This networking group brings together community transport operators in East Sussex to share ideas and best practice. Most East Sussex transport operators are listed in the Community Transport Directory 2007 and copies are available from local libraries.
The main minibus community transport operators in East Sussex are:
- Battle Area Community Transport Tel: 01424 772001
- Bexhill Community Bus Tel: 01424-222820
- Bluebird Community Partnership Tel: 01444 471919
- Brighton & Hove Community Transport Tel: 01273 677559
- British Red Cross Tel: 01634 821530
- Community Transport Lewes Area Tel: 01273 517332
- Cuckmere Community Bus Tel. 01323 870920
- Friends of Crowborough Hospital Tel: 01892 664626
- Hastings Area Community Transport Tel: 01424 436868
- Age Concern East Sussex
- Rye & District Community Transport Tel: 01797 227722
Useful links
The East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) enables disabled people in East Sussex to achieve independence and control over their own lives.
West Sussex Independent Living Association is a not-for-profit organisation promoting and supporting independence for disabled people in West Sussex.
Tripscope is a registered charity, set up to provide a specialist travel advice and transport information service for disabled people throughout the UK.
The Disabled Drivers' Association provides advice on matters of mobility for all people with mobility problems.
Holiday Care provides travel information and advice for disabled people, single-parent families, carers, and those on low incomes. It also provides advice to travel operators who wish to improve their facilities for disabled people and works with RADAR and the tourist boards to produce Accessible Holidays in the British Isles: a Guide for Disabled People.
The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) believes that disabled people should be part of the community and share in all the activities of normal daily life.
Shopmobility provide information on travelling to Hospital and Medical Appointments
St John’s Ambulance provides a range of patient transport services, transferring patients to a wide range of non-emergency medical appointments such as admissions to and discharge from hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other medical facilities. For further information, Tel: 08700 10 49 50 to be put in touch with your local St John Ambulance branch.
The British Red Cross Society provides helps people who find it difficult or impossible to use public or private transport unaided, by providing door-to-door assistance with drivers and/or escorts to help them make essential journeys. For more information Tel: 0800 587 8929