Cuts to hit vital rural bus service

Cuts to hit vital rural bus service

22 April 2015

COMMUNITY transport users across the district are bracing themselves for major disruption in the wake of another Stormont funding cut.

The Department of Regional Development (DRD) is slashing Down Community Transport’s budget by a quarter as a result of increasing financial pressure, a move which is set to impact on elderly and disabled people living in isolated rural areas who rely on the door-to-door service.

The cut announced by the government department comes as Translink continues consulting on a controversial plan to axe town services in Downpatrick, Newcastle and Ballynahinch due to funding pressure.

Stormont Transport Minister Danny Kennedy needs to make savings of £60m in the new financial year, with the local community transport organisation set to have almost £105,000 wiped from its budget.

Down Community Transport manager Russ Hanna hopes some additional money can be found to support what he described as a “vitally important service.”

He is concerned about the impact such a major cut will have on the group’s operation and its ability to provide services to vulnerable people who rely heavily upon the organisation.

“A cut of £105,000 is a major loss for us. If I am brutally honest, we were in financial trouble before this cut was announced and it poses major difficulties for us. Last year we reduced our expenditure but maintained services, but that is going to be particularly difficult to do now,” explained Russ.

“In the last financial year we carried out 13,500 trips but that figure will to around 10,000 as a result of this cut. We mainly provide transport services to people in isolated, rural communities, mainly the elderly and disabled. They are going to bear the full brunt of our reduced funding.”

The DRD has confirmed the grant to 11 rural community transport groups across the Province has been cut from £2.75m to £2.4m and that additional money made available last year which increased the budget to £3.6m is “unlikely” to be available this time.

Mr Kennedy has confirmed his department will be working with community transport providers to “explore ways of delivering the service in a more cost-efficient manner and will seek to minimise the impact on the end user.” But Mr Hanna admits this will prove challenging.

“Community transport is a lifeline for many people,” he said. “Given the scale of the cut we have to absorb it is now a case of damage limitation as we have to plan for the future with a significantly reduced budget. Already we have received calls from a number of concerned service users.

“Our hands are tied. We realise everything is down to money and that Northern Ireland is in a difficult financial position. We have to hope some additional money can be found and the community transport cut won’t be as severe as it currently is. Extra cash was found in the past and everyone involved with providing services for elderly and vulnerable people hopes this will be the case again.”

Mr Hanna said if a meeting in Stormont today confirms there is no extra money in the DRD coffers, he will have to take a critical look at the service he provides to “see where reductions are required.”

He added: “The loss of substantial funding is a body blow and has major implications for the organisation. Given that we are losing such a big chunk of money, staff will inevitably worry about job security. News of the cut has also led to a very stressful situation for our excellent staff.

“Given Translink is consulting on the future of its town services in local towns and the cut to our budget, elderly and vulnerable people in rural areas could become even more marginalised. We hope today’s meeting can provide us with some breathing space and a positive indication that some extra money may possibly be available.”

Strangford MLA David McNarry, who is a member of the DRD Committee, said the transport funding cut is “striking right at the heart of very vulnerable people in their communities.”