Search for new rural bus service operator goes on

The search for a new operator to bring back a community bus service would require further work, a council said.

The Ability Bus service, based in Towcester, Northamptonshire, ceased operating due to financial pressures in April, impacting elderly and vulnerable people who relied on it for daily travel.

West Northamptonshire Council announced a £172,000 community transport grant fund and said there had been "significant interest" from groups wanting to provide replacement services.

But, five months on, the Reform UK-controlled authority said no viable proposal for its replacement had come forward.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Sarah Bool, Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, said her office had spoken to prospective providers still waiting to hear back from the authority.

In the letter, Ms Bool said: "Multiple community transport providers will have to cease operations in the coming months if West Northamptonshire Council does not announce details of any grants and provide them with certainty.

"These organisations provide an essential public service. They cannot responsibly and in good faith continue making those commitments without knowing whether they will have the resources to operate."

But the council said all applicants to its grant programme were contacted in July and told whether they had been successful.

It said a grants panel had approved about £72,000 for voluntary car schemes and community transport organisations already operating in the area, while retaining about £101,000 and the former Ability minibuses for a future replacement service.

West Northamptonshire Council said it would now progress its search by surveying parish councils previously served by Ability before carrying out further engagement with providers.

It said it would not be serving communities well by "rushing funding and assets to providers before they are in a position to deliver a sustainable service".

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