Sheila Tulloch
- Partner
Insights | Rural
The importance of community transport initiatives in rural Scotland
12 November 2024
Good transport networks in rural areas are essential for both the health of the local economy and the vibrancy of local communities. Whether it is ensuring access to vital goods and supplies, encouraging young people to live in rural areas, or attracting tourists who support local businesses, transportation is vitally important. However, despite being in an era where we have never been more connected, we see significant challenges when connecting rural communities via public transport.
Recent studies have shown that 64% of households in large urban areas of Scotland have cars, compared with almost 89% in rural areas. This is reflected in inverse proportions regarding bus usage, with the Scottish Household Survey travel diary showing that 53% of those who used the bus the previous day lived in large urban areas compared to 3% of users living in remote rural areas.
The reality of modern living means that reducing car ownership is not always feasible – bus services won’t necessarily be able to call at every village or farm frequently, and many people living in rural areas run businesses or have jobs that require the use of a vehicle.
However, adequate public transport can help discourage car use and provide a vital service to those who don’t have access to a vehicle. Whilst a linked-up, efficient public transport service needs a strategy and delivery plan initiated at government level, there are actions that can be taken at a local level to fill specific gaps and improve the quality of life for residents of remote and rural communities.
One example of this is community transport initiatives, where projects are delivered by groups based in the communities they serve. The Scottish branch of the Community Transport Association has over 180 members delivering a diverse range of projects across the whole of Scotland, many of these in some of Scotland’s remotest locations.
One such initiative is the Glenfarg Community Transport Group in Perthshire, which operates two community buses driven by a team of 15 volunteer drivers. The service is designed to promote social and recreational activities for those living in Glenfarg, with scheduled monthly outings as well as being used by local clubs and organisations. In April 2023, the group also took over a 55 Bus Service between Glenfarg and Kinross, setting up as a Scottish Charity and entering a Public Social Partnership (PSP) with Perth & Kinross Council.
Community transport initiatives can take many forms, with several of them also featuring impressive net zero credentials. On the island of Rousay in Orkney, the local Development Trust transformed its community electric car into a tailored door-to-door service. The Trust employs two drivers, offering trips to the shop, post office and surgery for island residents.
The impact of such initiatives can be life-changing for users and are a microcosm of how life in remote and rural areas requires appropriate transport provision if the area is not only to survive, but to thrive.
Reliable transportation is also crucial for businesses. Access to efficient networks can determine the viability of operations, for example, ensuring a shellfish business can reach overseas markets quickly or that farmers can transport livestock to slaughter while maintaining high welfare standards. Addressing these needs requires fit-for-purpose road and ferry infrastructure across Scotland, and we look forward to seeing how these issues will be tackled in the Government’s Rural Delivery Plan, due by 2026, and the new National Islands Plan, which is expected in 2025.
The availability of funding is of course key to the delivery of all transport services. This is a particular challenge for Scotland’s community transport sector, which is described as a “highly fragmented and competitive funding landscape” by the Community Transport Association. For example, the Rousay scheme mentioned above received funding from the Community Transport Small Grant Scheme operated by Orkney Islands Council, but not every local authority area will have similar schemes available.
Whether you are an established organisation or an individual with an idea that might benefit your community, we have a dedicated Charities and Third Sector team at Anderson Strathern who would be happy to have a discussion with you. With offices in Orkney and Shetland, we also have first-hand experience of many of the transport issues affecting peripheral communities in Scotland.
If you are facing a similar situation, please get in touch with Sheila Tulloch at Sheila.tulloch@andersonstrathern.co.uk