Quarter of a million pounds to be spent on investigations into bus issues
A rural education plan will be discussed next week.
Up to £250,000 is set to be spent on fully investigating the issues around bus provision in Dumfries and Galloway – and the potential for a council-run transport network.
Last month, councillors reaffirmed the need for a report exploring a council-run bus network.
They also agreed that a public transport needs assessment should be carried out for all local areas affected by the withdrawal or reduction of commercial bus services since June.
A report will now go before the council’s enabling and customer services committee next Tuesday proposing a big investment to get the wheels turning.
The report states: “The actions agreed by full council represent significant pieces of work which will require to be appropriately resourced.
“Due to the lack of capacity of the existing officers within SWestrans and the council’s transport team, this cannot be accommodated within existing staffing resources and it will therefore be necessary to seek external resourcing to ensure progression of this work within appropriate timescales.
“The initial assessment is that there is a need to procure a specialist individual for a period of up to one year to work alongside the existing team at an estimated cost of up to £150k.”
A specialist contractor will also be required “to progress dedicated pieces of work and gather specific detail”from across the region’s bus network. This will cost an additional £100,000. Council bosses say that this initial £250,000 estimate will be reviewed again, and that value for money will be maximised.