Ribble Valley Community Transport (RVCT)

Ribble Valley Community Transport began its operations in October 1998. Following a grant from the Rural Development Commission and the National Lottery Chariities Board, our first accessible vehicle was purchased. This was predominantly used for a Dial-A-Ride shopping service, picking passengers up from villages within the Ribble Valley and bringing them into town. The vehicle was also available for community group hire throughout the year.

By November 2001 RVCT had two vehicles ans a new service called the Ribble Valley Rider. This scheme was initiallly set up as a 12 month pilot to look at community based accessible transport services for isolated and socially excluded groups in the Gisburn and surrounding Ribblesdale area. This demand responsive service covered Chatburn, Sawley, Bolton-By-Bowland, Gisburn, Rimmington, Downham and Clitheroe.
In April 2002 RVCT became 'O' licence operators, which has enabled us to run a Rivvle Valley Rider service route, three times a day (except Wednesdays). This service has now become the 203 Gisburn Circular, covering all the above villages as before, but within a fixed timetable. When the Rider is not on its timetabled run, it is still available for a demand responsive service. Wednesdays for example are used to take people to Clitheroe Hospital for appointments.

On Saturday we also offer the 206 service to Chipping an Chaigley, returning to Clitheroe. During the summer months we offer day trips to our regular passengers to places of interest.
The remit of RVCT is to provid a transport network throughout the Ribble Valley area, especially to isolated areas and the socially excluded. From both passenger numers and geedback we feel that we are achieving this aim, as passengers remain independent and note the difference the service has made.
People living outsid Clitheroe are sometimes isolated and cut off from social events, visiting friends and shopping trips. We provid an accessible service that can meet their future demands.

December 2002 saw the project move from its base at Shawbridge to Kirkmoor Road to accommodate the fleet of 5 buses that we are now operating. In February we took delivery of two new Optare vehicles to replace the Dial-A-Ride (12 seater) and Ribble Valley Rider (23 seater) buses. We also have a 29 seat bus that we use for daydrips and a 13 seat vehicle we use for group hire.

As the project has grown we have introduced a number of measures to ensure that our customers are kept informed. We have introduced a monthly newsletter that keeps people up to date on all of RVCT's projects, and includes questionnaires and feedback forms for customer opinions.

Working with the Grand Cinema in Clitheroe we introduced a film bus service that is demand responsive and ties in with the screenings at the cinema. We are looking to expand our current level of service by looking at school/work contracts and prescription drops to people in outlying villages.
Contact: Karen Brayshaw. Tel: 01200 444484. Email: rvct@trinitypartners.co.uk