Westway CT (WCT) and The Community Transport Association welcomed Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood to our depot in West London on October 17th – the penultimate day of Community Transport Week. This was a chance for the minister to meet our passengers, volunteers, and staff to hear first-hand about the impact our services make on their lives. 

Yo can hear what the minister had to say here.

Together we discussed the lifeline community transport offers, allowing people to shop, socialise and attend appointments. The minister commented,

“Everyone deserves to travel confidently, which is why we’re ensuring community services are included in our bus overhaul plans.”

The Government currently makes up to £3.8 million available annually to community transport operators to help support these vital services. As plans to hand back control of bus services to local authorities gather pace, the Government is exploring how this initiative can include the community transport sector.  Community transport serves 14.5 million people across the country every year.

Sandra has worked with us for 20 years and is now a driver on the Dial-A-Ride service. She said, “We’re not just drivers, we’re carers, we’re problem solvers, we’re comedians. Community Transport is so important, sometimes we’re the only person a passenger sees all week.”

Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood chatted to staff and passengers, exploring the role community transport plays saying, 

“Community transport services are a lifeline for so many people, which is why I was delighted to visit Westway today to celebrate the incredible work of operators up and down the country. We’re committed to improving our local networks, to make them more inclusive and enable vulnerable people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. Community transport plays a vital role in providing these services, so we are working to ensure they are part of the solution.” 

The minister also spoke to WCT CEO, Kathleen Lyons, she said,

“We were delighted to welcome Simon Lightwood to Westway Community Transport. It’s never been more important to showcase the work of community transport. We’re an essential part of the local transport mix – particularly for those who find public transport difficult to use – and a key component in any plan to tackle loneliness and social isolation.”

To see more about how we connect communities, please take a look at our latest annual report here