Priti Patel joins the Coggeshall Community Bus team
Witham MP, Priti Patel, joined Coggeshall Community Bus volunteers and travelled on the bus for part of its evening service between Coggeshall Market Hill and Kelvedon Station on Monday [13th August 2018].
Coggeshall Community Bus is operated entirely by volunteers and provides morning and evening services between Coggeshall Market Hill and Kelvedon Station for commuters. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the bus also has an ‘around the town service’ between 9:45am and 12noon to assist elderly residents who need to reach local amenities.
Priti has made representations to the Department of Transport on the concerns raised by the Coggeshall Community Bus about new European Union (EU) regulations which will threaten the operation of not-for-profit organisations that deliver local and community passenger transport. During her visit she was able to discuss this issue and the impact these new regulations could have upon the local community in particular local residents who are very much dependent upon the bus as their only means of getting out and about in the community.
Priti said:
“It was a pleasure to meet the volunteers who run the Coggeshall Community Bus and hear of the extensive contribution they are making towards the local community and people across Coggeshall by providing the bus service.
“Community transport services are extremely valuable and provide a lifeline to many people who have no modes of transport or who are unable to access local amenities.
“I am grateful to the volunteers at the Coggeshall Community Bus for all that they are doing to provide this service but also for raising with me their legitimate concerns the new EU regulations and the potential impact upon this service. I have raised concerns about these regulations with the Government and have been pressing Ministers to ensure community transport operators are exempt from these new regulations.”