YOUNG people in Westbury are working towards getting better transport provision in and around the town.
Surveys of young people in the area have revealed that the majority believe that they suffer from a lack of transport options, especially during the evenings and weekends when they are most likely to want to go out.
The Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG) has been investigating the possibility of getting a minibus that would pick up teenagers from in and around Westbury to shuttle them to and from Westbury Youth Club.
The group has received positive feedback from Wiltshire Council, and is now at the stage of applying for funding from the Wiltshire Young People’s Opportunity Fund and Westbury Area Board.
Sally Willox, Westbury youth development co-ordinator said, “The next step now is filling out a funding bid. Community First are also helping to contact local community groups who maintain minibuses to see if we can borrow or share one to use as a shuttle going to and from the youth club.”
The minibus would be used on Friday evenings and Sundays, when the youth club is open for young people to drop in.
Volunteer drivers are also being sought for the scheme. Anyone who is interested in being a volunteer driver is asked to contact Sally at Westbury Youth Club on 01373 822335.
Young people from Westbury have also met with representatives from travel companies recently to discuss travel problems and solutions.
At a conference in Devizes on Friday 19th February one hundred young people were joined by a host of local transport providers including Stagecoach, First Bus, Wiltshire and Dorset Bus Co. and voluntary sector community transport schemes.
The young people created a ‘statement of intent’ which affirms: “Over the next six months we will work together towards a ‘fairer transport deal’ for young people in Wiltshire up to the age of 18.” Signatories to the statement include Stagecoach South and Stagecoach Swindon, the Wiltshire and Dorset Bus Co., Wiltshire councillors Richard Gamble and Richard Clewer, David Whewell, Wiltshire Council’s head of youth work and Liam Tatton-Bennett on behalf of the voluntary sector.
Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council said, “It is fantastic to see so many young people who are not only passionate about the issue of transport, but are also keen to work on a solution. I am sure this conference will lead to action and I look forward to seeing what the young people achieve in the year ahead.”
