Transport grants to better connect rural communities

A new Mid Suffolk grant scheme will aim to increase community transport options across their district – to better connect local communities and reduce emissions.

This week, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet agreed to progress plans for a new ‘environmentally sustainable’ community transport grant scheme.

The scheme will be funded by up to £820,000 that was ringfenced for rural transport provision as part of the council’s 2022/23 budget.

The grant scheme’s aim is to increase the number of alternatives to solo car journeys. This will, in turn, help lower emissions and improve air quality in line with the council’s and the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership’s net zero emissions targets.

It would be open to existing community transport operators, to deliver set and specified routes, covering as much of Mid Suffolk as possible.

This would include strategic stops such as rail stations, colleges, supporting residents of all ages.

Operators would also have to deliver the provision in the greenest and most sustainable way possible.

This could include utilising hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or biofuel, and minimising ‘dead mileage’, with ambitions to go electric as soon as it becomes a viable option.

While developing a grant scheme proposal, the council will closely monitor other related projects. These may change the picture for service provision across the county.

They include local taxi-bus pilots, a number of Government grant schemes, and existing community transport provision, such as Suffolk County Council’s ‘Connecting Communities’

Cllr Teresa Davis, cabinet member for thriving towns and rural communities at Mid Suffolk District Council, said: 

“This grant scheme is all about increasing availability and routes of community buses in Mid Suffolk, not only for those in need, but to offer more choice for people to opt for something other than their car.

“There’s still a lot of work and research to do with partners, but we look forward to being able to announce further details about these community bus routes soon.”

While it is hoped the new grant scheme could be up and running next year, further detailed research and consultation will be required first.