Transport Bid Approved
More details have been released about a tourist bus and employment shuttle being launched as part of the successful £4 million Rutland County Council transport bid.
Both services will start in April 2013 after Councillors at Full Council (8 October 2012) voted to accept the conditions of the grant funding awarded earlier this year.
The intention is that the Tourism bus will operate 7 days a week on an hourly basis linking sites around Rutland Water with both Oakham and Uppingham. It will give visitors the opportunity to move around the county as well as bringing people into town centres.
The Employment Shuttle will play a key role in providing low cost transport for workers and has been developed in partnership with major employers. The proposal consists of four routes, each having three return journeys per day, at times to match shift patterns. It will cover areas across Rutland as well as Corby, Melton and Stamford.
Council Leader Roger Begy commented: “Rutland Water welcomes thousands of visitors each year and the new tourism bus will enable them to move from one part of the reservoir to another, and also to visit our town centres. Equally, those visiting Oakham and Uppingham will now be able to spend a part of their day relaxing at Rutland Water without having to move their car.”
Councillor Begy: “The employee shuttle bus has been developed in partnership with major employers who have offered extremely helpful advice on things like routes and shift patterns. Local businesses will now have access to a much bigger potential workforce than might have been available before this shuttle bus service was introduced.”
The final element of the £4 million funding is for a new transport interchange in Oakham which will be completed by 2015. This will be based in the vicinity of the existing railway station and will link all forms of travel including train, bus, taxi, a new cycle hub, potential additional parking, as well as a ‘wheels to work’ scheme.
Councillors also voted to consider the possibility of using ‘compulsory purchase’ as a last resort for the new transport interchange, if negotiations are unsuccessful. A compulsory purchase order would give the council power to obtain land without the consent of the owner if the proposed development improves the area for the wider public. A compensation payment to reflect the value of the site (and other costs) would then be paid.
Keep up-to-date with the latest news on the £4 million transport funding by visiting the Rutland County Council website at http://www.rutland.gov.uk/