COUNTY councillors have contacted MPs to ensure ‘vital’ community transport schemes, including Newton Abbot Community Transport Association and East Teignbridge (Dawlish) Community Transport Association, are not put at risk by proposed Government legislation.

The community schemes are under threat after a commercial bus company challenged current UK guidance in the European courts. Enforced regulations would mean community buses with more than nine seats would be subject to the same regulations as buses, minibuses and coaches run for profit, and community transport drivers would have to hold the same qualifications as professional drivers.

Up to now community transport, run for the benefit of local people, has effectively been exempt from full commercial licencing.

The Government is currently consulting on licencing for community transport. They’ve claimed that local authorities have actively encouraged community transport provision to replace subsidised local bus services, which have been cut due to budget constraints, and have cited that is in breach of competition legislations.

Devon County Council Cabinet has approved a draft response to the consultation and there was cross-party and unanimous agreement that the continued existence of the vital community services is not put at risk.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for community and public transport, said: ‘We will obviously work with these groups to help them comply with any new rules that come in.

‘But firstly what we must do is ensure that the Government is well aware of the potential consequences of this action and we have contacted our MPs to alert them.

‘We must all make sure that the continued existence of these vital community services is not put at risk.’

Community transport is provided by a network of voluntary organisations that helps people get to the shops, services, medical appointments or leisure activities where no alternative or suitable transport is available. This may be because of rural seclusion, or for disabled or elderly passengers who cannot access or use public transport.

Cllr Alistair Dewhirst said: ‘These are lifelines for people, and people lives depend on them. We need to fight this as much as we can.’

Cllr Rob Hannaford said: ‘Local communities have come together and have provided these vital services, and it is a kick in the teeth for those volunteers and charities who are trying to hold these communities together.

‘I do think that central Government will have to put some money into local Government to subsidise these services as otherwise we will end up with nothing. Those communities will cease to function and there is no way that collectively we can allowed that happen.’

Cllr Yvonne Atkinson asked if the council had a Plan B in case the European regulations were enforced.

Damien Jones, head of transport coordination service, replied: ‘This is very complex issue as it is about a legal requirement. But we do have a plan B, C, D and E to ensure that we can provide transport for the essential services.’

Devon County Council grants around £250,000 to 14 community schemes, which operate pre-booked transport such as ring and ride. The community transport groups use that cash as a basis to qualify for more grants from other local councils and organisations.

There are around 239,000 passenger trips a year on community transport in Devon with 150 volunteers driving minibuses and 75 paid permit drivers.