Article created : 20/07/2009
Essex County Council would like to assist Parishes that may be interested in setting up a community led commuter bus service.
When Coggeshall Parish lost their bus service through Kelvedon in 1982, the Parish set up the Coggeshall Community Bus. A grant was used to purchase a second hand vehicle, which ran for three years, before being replaced with a new vehicle. After a few years of running the service the Parish Council decided that it did not want to run the service any longer, due to the administration required. A new company, the Coggeshall Community Bus Ltd, was then formed, the directors consisting of the local organisation committee for the bus. This structure has continued to this day.
Buses leave Coggeshall every 15 minutess from 6:45 to 7:30, then hourly to 9:05, and meets trains from 17:30 to 19:20. The cost of the journey is a fixed cost of 80p.
The timetable is registered with the Traffic Commissioner and the service has to operate to the published timetable and is open to anyone who wishes to use it.
The level of usage is fairly high and constant. The operation accumulates a healthy surplus each year which then pays for the new bus every five years.
The service operates using voluntary drivers which reduces costs considerably.
Essex County Council would like to assist other Parishes that may be interested in setting up this type of commuter service, by assisting with grant applications and meeting with Coggeshall Community Bus Ltd. Parishes can operate the service on their own or with neighbouring Parishes.
If your Parish has:
1. a high number of commuters in the community going to the same station or work site;
2. no bus service that meets the needs of the commuter;
3. high parking charges at the station;
4. a band of volunteers willing to help the community;
then please contact Rachael Price, Accessibility Planning Officer
Passenger Transport, Environment Sustainability and Highways, Essex County Council, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH.
Tel 01245 437098
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