Report from North Devon 26 March 2024

Far too many communities have inadequate or non-existent public transport and Northern Devon Right to Travel exists to put this right. We started during the election campaigning period in 2019 with a conference in Barnstaple library. It was well attended and over half the participants were members of local councils with three parliamentary candidates present. The pandemic got in the way.

We have had support from the trade union movement with a motion at the South West TUC regional council calling for a campaign to get more buses in rural areas in the South West being passed unanimously. A grant of £250 came from Unite the Union retired members branch, £100 from RMT regional council and £50 from Barnstaple RMT bus branch. Nationally the issue of lack of buses has been taken up by the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the National Pensioners’ Convention and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and other organisations.

The problem we face is how to move pious resolutions and sound policies into buses on rural roads. So far we have had no help from Devon County Council and we need to engage with them.

We have decided to tackle the issue community by community so have chosen South Molton, Chittlehampton, Umberleigh, Atherington and Great Torrington – two towns and three villages one of which has a railway station. We have held meetings in Chittlehampton and South Molton and will hold another at The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington at 7pm Wednesday 10th April.

A bus service connecting the five communities connecting with the Tarka line railway service would greatly improve many non-motorists lives. These communities are already linked by the B3227 road so for the Torrington event we are running a free bus service leaving South Molton at 6.05, Chittlehampton 6.25, Umberleigh railway station 6.35. It will leave for the return journey at 9.15. Streets Coachways will provide that service.

We hope this will be the first of many buses to do that route and need to persuade Devon County Council of its value to the citizens of these five communities.

Contact Gerrard Sables, 8 Penrose Square, Barnstaple EX32 8NH

email gerrard.sables@mail.com

tel: 01271 373338 or 0784 8007826