News
News Release 02 October 2005 Time to Talk about Community Transport
The Community Transport Association is to launch Community Transport Week (4th - 7th October) with a special vintage rally in Cookstown. The Association today, Monday 3rd October, encouraged people from across Northern Ireland to come along to its free ‘Talk Time’ events during the week to hear first hand how Community Transport can benefit them.
The Association will host four ‘Talk Time’ sessions across Northern Ireland as part of its wider ‘Translink Community Transport Talk Time Drive’. Shauna Haughey, Community Transport Association explained that they were looking forward to hearing the views of the local community.
The Association will host four ‘Talk Time’ sessions across Northern Ireland as part of its wider ‘Translink Community Transport Talk Time Drive’. Shauna Haughey, Community Transport Association explained that they were looking forward to hearing the views of the local community.
“Community Transport (CT) is an essential service for many people who rely on the membership-based schemes to take them shopping, visiting, to health services, or to access training and education services. We are therefore encouraging existing and potential passengers alike to take advantage of this opportunity and come along to voice their opinions and provide suggestions as to how best community transport can serve them.
The majority of minibuses funded by the Rural Transport Fund (RTF) are leased by Translink on behalf of the Department for Regional Development, and the vehicles are serviced and maintained by Ulsterbus staff at local depots around NI.
“Translink is delighted to support this important initiative and remains committed to providing accessible and cost-effective transport for everyone in Northern Ireland. We recognise that due to mobility and health issues not everyone is able to access normal scheduled Translink rail and bus services, which is why Community Transport schemes are essential,” said Irvine Lavery, Translink.
Shauna added: “We are kicking off Community Transport Week with a vintage
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rally event on Tuesday 4th October at 11am from Cookstown's Gortalowry House Hotel followed by the official launch which will be opened by the ‘Bard of Armagh’, Patsy O’Hagan. The first of our ‘Talk Time’ sessions will take place in Gortalowry House Hotel in Cookstown from 1 – 4pm and passengers will be invited to provide their views on Community Transport and put their questions to a panel of local transport VIPs. Lunch is free at 1pm and participants will be entered in a free prize draw.
“On Wednesday 5th October we are in Great Victoria Station from 12 until 4pm where the Community Transport Association will also formally celebrate its working partnership with the Rural Transport Fund team at Translink, by launching a new maintenance charter agreement between Translink and the Community Transport Association.
“On Wednesday 5th we are also in Manor House in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Bangor from 12 until 4pm where the 200th person to be trained by the local community transport project, Peninsula Community Transport (PACT) will be presented with a certificate. John Young, current MiDAS Driver of the Year will preside at the event.
“The last of our ‘Talk Time’ sessions will take place in the Community Hall, Carrickmore on Thursday 6th October from 12 until 4pm where we will be launching a new Social Car Scheme service for the members of local group, Mid Tyrone Accessible Community Transport (MTACT), allowing individual members to be transported by volunteers who use their own cars. The new service will provide an estimated additional 700 trips a year.
“Our Grand Finale ‘Question Time’ celebrity debate will take place on Friday 7th October in the Everglades Hotel in Derry where we will also launch a new ‘Social Car Scheme’ for members of local group, Foyle Connect Community Transport.
“We are expecting the celebrity debate to be popular so booking in advance is essential,” Shauna concluded.
Ends.
For further information please contact: Shauna Haughey, Community Transport Association, Tel: 028 9040 3535 Mobile: 07919023690
