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Community transport web forum

Transport Committee

We expect to receive formal written and oral evidence from a range of witnesses—commercial and larger community transport operators; local authorities; Traffic Commissioners; the DVSA; and the Department for Transport. The formal written evidence portal is open to everyone, but we are keen to give people, particularly users of community transport services and smaller organisations, an alternative way of submitting their views. The deadline for formal written evidence is 3 November, but this web forum will remain open throughout the inquiry.

Community transport users

If you, or a family member, are a user of community transport services you might want to tell us about:

  • Whether you have any concerns about how your service is licensed and regulated
  • The effects your service has on your quality of life

Community transport organisations and drivers

If you are involved in a small, perhaps single-vehicle, community transport organisation we want to know:

  • Whether you expect to be affected by the new interpretation of the licensing rules and, if so, what effect could it have on your services? (please see terms of reference)
  • Whether services are at imminent risk

You can also use the forum to suggest the questions we should be asking the Department for Transport and others.

Return to the community transport inquiry

92 Contributions (since 19 October 2017)
Closed for contributions

This web forum is displayed for archive purposes and is no longer accepting public contributions. For queries relating to the content of this web forum, please contact the Transport Committee.

Total results 92 (page 1 of 10)

Stephen Mellings

29 November 2017 at 16:28

I find these comments in support of the community sector and drivers of Section 19/22 vehicles extremely worrying. Nobody is doubting the fact that these organisations play an important role in providing transport for the vulnerable and isolated, however we must not confuse the issue and ignore the fact that the LAW must be up held. These organisations blatantly abuse UK and EU legislation in using unlicensed drivers to transport the most vulnerable of our society. Whichever you look at it this is the crux of the problem - they have for over 30 years been allowed to openly break the law with full backing from the UK Government and only after strong lobbying from various commercial organisations and the subsequent letter from DFT's Stephen Fidler have they been made to address the issue. STOP supporting organisations that operate under the guise of charities whereas they are in fact businesses with multi million pound turnovers paying their staff huge salaries in order to be seen as 'non profit making' while using illegal drivers and vehicles.

Barbara Dodds

28 November 2017 at 14:43

I have recently moved into an area where a Community Transport System is in operation, called Qube Dial a Ride in Shropshire. I understand that this service would not be able to continue if the proposal of the new licensing rules come into operation. The village in which I live relies on this service as do I, as I can no longer drive due to injury. The bus service that run through the village I understand stopped a few years ago, so this Community Transport Bus is a life line for the people in the village and myself in particular. I moved here because this Community Bus was in operation, which meant it gave me some independence, which would be taken away from me if the licensing rules change. You might say I could get a taxi, yes I could but this would cost at less £20 one way, and as my husband is retired and I cannot draw a pension until I am 66yrs (in 3 years time) we are on a limited income. I write to plead that any new licensing rules are not implemented, and that our Community Transport System can remain as it is and I keep my indepdence. Thank you for taking the time to read this message. With grateful thanks Barbara Dodds

Keith Wood

25 November 2017 at 06:13

I raised the question of the Equalities Act with relation to any changes To be clear I thought it would be useful for all service providers to know what the law expects and if the rules about sec 19/ 22 are to change then the DfT need to consider this important piece of legislation because, as you will see, the regulation is anticipatory Using a service. Reasonable adjustments for disabled people Which countries is it relevant to? England Scotland & Wales Equality law recognises that bringing about equality for disabled people may mean changing the way in which services are delivered, providing extra equipment and/or the removal of physical barriers. This is the ‘duty to make reasonable adjustments’. A duty is something someone must do, in this case because the law says they must. The duty to make reasonable adjustments aims to make sure that if you are a disabled person, you can use an organisation’s services as close as it is reasonably possible to get to the standard usually offered to non-disabled people. If an organisation providing goods, facilities or services to the public or a section of the public, or carrying out public functions, or running an association finds there are barriers to disabled people in the way it does things, then it must consider making adjustments (in other words, changes). If those adjustments are reasonable for that organisation to make, then it must make them. The duty is ‘anticipatory’. This means an organisation cannot wait until a disabled person wants to use its services, but must think in advance (and on an ongoing basis) about what disabled people with a range of impairments might reasonably need, such as people who have a visual impairment, a hearing impairment, a mobility impairment or a learning disability. An organisation is not required to do more than it is reasonable for it to do. What is reasonable for an organisation to do depends, among other factors, on its size and nature, and the nature of the goods, facilities or services it provides, or the public functions it carries out, or the association it runs. If you are a disabled person and can show that there were barriers an organisation should have identified and reasonable adjustments it could have made, you can bring a claim against it in court. If you win your case, the organisation may be told to pay compensation and make the reasonable adjustments. Using a service. Reasonable adjustments for disabled people Which countries is it relevant to? England Scotland & Wales Equality law recognises that bringing about equality for disabled people may mean changing the way in which services are delivered, providing extra equipment and/or the removal of physical barriers. This is the ‘duty to make reasonable adjustments’. A duty is something someone must do, in this case because the law says they must. The duty to make reasonable adjustments aims to make sure that if you are a disabled person, you can use an organisation’s services as close as it is reasonably possible to get to the standard usually offered to non-disabled people. If an organisation providing goods, facilities or services to the public or a section of the public, or carrying out public functions, or running an association finds there are barriers to disabled people in the way it does things, then it must consider making adjustments (in other words, changes). If those adjustments are reasonable for that organisation to make, then it must make them. The duty is ‘anticipatory’. This means an organisation cannot wait until a disabled person wants to use its services, but must think in advance (and on an ongoing basis) about what disabled people with a range of impairments might reasonably need, such as people who have a visual impairment, a hearing impairment, a mobility impairment or a learning disability. An organisation is not required to do more than it is reasonable for it to do. What is reasonable for an organisation to do depends, among other factors, on its size and nature, and the nature of the goods, facilities or services it provides, or the public functions it carries out, or the association it runs. If you are a disabled person and can show that there were barriers an organisation should have identified and reasonable adjustments it could have made, you can bring a claim against it in court. If you win your case, the organisation may be told to pay compensation and make the reasonable adjustments.

Michael Kinnear

24 November 2017 at 14:03

As if rural services are not under increasing pressure as time goes on in any case. These transport links are supported by volunteers in the main and it would be a slap in the face to make their contribution less effective. For the consumers, anything that reduces availability would be even more egregious.

TRIP Community Transport Honiton

23 November 2017 at 16:03

Community Transport, especially in rural areas such as this, plays an absolutely vital role in reducing isolation, enabling people to live a more active social life, helping them maintain their independence and to stay in their homes for much longer than would otherwise be possible. In rural areas there is usually no alternative to the services provided by community groups as there is no other service apart from occasional expensive taxis. CT allows isolated people to attend medical and social appointments which make the difference between having an existence and living a fuller and more healthy life. These proposed increases in running costs to provide such non commercially viable transport will cause numerous services to close down or seriously reduce the number of services available and will cause more and more older or disabled people to become trapped in their homes.

Barbara McBride

23 November 2017 at 15:20

Ellesmere and District Day Centre meets every Thursday in Ellesmere Town Hall. We have 25 older vulnerable people who rely on us to provide important social interaction with the community. With Dial-a-Ride we would have to close, this would be devastating for our members. Barbara McBride on behalf of the volunteers and members of Ellesmere & District Day Centre.

KAREN SILMAN

23 November 2017 at 15:12

I am a Community Transport user. Portsmouth City Council stopped providing a grant to Pompey Dial a Ride and now a much lesser service is in operation. One bus instead of three, this results in a more erratic service without flexibility for anyone. Many more people are not using the service due to the Age Uk contract which takes the available slots between 9 and 11am. With only one bus there is no capacity for anyone else during that time.

Withyham Parish Council

23 November 2017 at 10:06

We are concerned about any changes to licensing and regulation arrangements of Community Transport Operators which may lead to increased demands, costs and overheads on their already overstretched personnel and budgets. Withyham parish is lucky enough to have ‘Wealdlink’ (North Wealden Community Transport Partnership) operating for its residents. Wealdlink often covers routes which commercial operators will not operate because they find them financially unviable due to the rural nature of our parish. They have often worked with Local Authorities to step into the routes where commercial operators have pulled out, rather than there being any competition with commercial operators for these routes. Wealdlink also provides a service which differs to commercial operators, such as door to door for elderly residents who would struggle to leave their homes otherwise due to mobility issues. It is a lifeline to many people who would otherwise be socially isolated. Existing bench marking such as the Community Transport Association’s Quality Mark already requires that community transport operators have, and follow, policies that ensure safety, security, and quality. Such arrangements would seem appropriate to the scale of operation for such providers, who work on a not-for-profit basis with volunteer drivers. Increased licensing and regulation seems excessive and only likely to lead to precious local community services such as Wealdlink being unable to continue their incredibly important community based service.

Keith Wood

22 November 2017 at 21:59

I was under the impression that this had uploaded this morning but maybe not Has anyone thought about A) the financial implication of changing the rule – the group I volunteer to help provided an alternative to a commercial route which failed because the tender was too high Presumably, as my groups will close down is rules are changed, there will be a need to resume the commercial service The cost will be £98,000 assuming the previous tender is still valid B)The impact of the Equalities Act 2010. Service providers have to make “reasonable adjustments” to ensure that people will not suffer discrimination after the rules change, with the resultant loss of the voluntary services, Will the commercial sector be able, or afford to run vehicles to destinations that comply with "reasonable adjustments" because if not there is the potential for action under the terms of the act. The recent case brought by Doug Paulley's indicated that the act has wide ranging “teeth”

Simon Harrington

22 November 2017 at 18:15

I am Chair of a small CT operation based in Totnes and serving a mostly rural area of Devon and make the following points - 1. Our CT organisation is entirely community based. It draws its support, volunteer drivers and workers, passengers and finance from the local area. 2. We receive no regular grant aid from any source but do fundraise and seek funding support wherever we can. 3. We charge below market fares for journeys and know that the market fare is unaffordable for most of our passengers.. 4. We provide services that are not in direct competition with commercial operators and which they are not interested in operating as they do not offer either profit or publice subsidy opportunities. 5. We believe that access to affordable transport is crucial to all sectioins of society. 6. We seek to address issues of congestion, air quality and quality of life in the community that we serve. The ‘social capital’ that we add to our community can be measured not just by the 30,000 + passenger journeys that are made on our services every year but by the high esteem in which the service is held locally.

Total results 92 (page 1 of 10)