The Rural Access to Services Programme is a new
initiative from Advantage West Midlands (the Regional Development
Agency for the area) which takes over from the previous Rural
Transport Partnerships managed by the Countryside Agency. The
region has been split into 6 sub-regions, those being:-
- Telford & Wrekin Council
- Herefordshire County Council
- Shropshire County Council
- Staffordshire County Council
- Warwickshire County Council
- Worcestershire County Council
Funding has been made available from Advantage West Midlands, of
which Telford & Wrekin have been allocated £100k each year
during 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09. This funding is specifically
aimed towards improving access to services in the rural area. In
particular, improving access for rural employees to access work and
for rural businesses to improve accessibility to a local available
workforce.
Advantage West Midlands has further specified that £30k of the
£100k each year must be utilised by the
Wheels to Work scheme, which assists people
to reach work and training, who due to access issues, would
otherwise have to turn these opportunities down.
As a minimum, the funding provided by Advantage West Midlands will
be used to assist at least the following number of
employees/jobseekers and businesses.
Employees/jobseekers to be supported
2006/07 - 40
2007/08 - 60
2008/09 - 90
Businesses to be supported
2006/07 - 1
2007/08 - 2
2008/09 - 3
Rural Access to Service Programme Delivery
Plan
In order to spend the funding on the most
appropriate schemes and projects, the Council has produced a Rural
Access to Services Programme Delivery Plan. The Plan was submitted
to Advantage West Midlands for approval at the end of June 2006.
The full Delivery Plan is available to view by following the link
below or the link on the right hand side of this page.
Rural Access to Services Programme Delivery Plan
2006-2009 (PDF 321Kb)
How does the RASP fit in with the Local Accessibility
Partnership?
The RASP links very closely with the Local Accessibility
Partnership. In fact, the delivery of the RASP Plan will be
undertaken by the LAP in the same way as the Accessibility
Strategy, as both plans are tasked with improving access to
services throughout the area. The Accessibility Strategy is
concerned with the whole of the area, whilst the RASP Delivery Plan
is specifically concerned with rural accessibility.
Partners of the LAP will have involvement with both plans,
inputting ideas, and sharing experience and knowledge.
How can the RASP help your rural business, group,
organisation or parish council?
Through working with
the partners on the LAP and addressing issues where access to
services needs improving, it is hoped that many people who live
and/or work in the rural area of Telford & Wrekin will benefit
from the improvements made.
The Rural Access to Services Programme Delivery
Plan (PDF 321Kb) details the proposed work over the next
three years.
In addition to this planned work, a sum of funding has been set
aside during each year of the Programme in order for businesses,
groups, organisations and parish councils to make their own access
to services improvements. These Rural Access Grants are available
now. See the page on
Rural Access Grants for further information
about the grants, who is eligible to apply, what the funding can
be used for, and how to apply.
For further details about the Rural Access to Services Programme
and/or the Local Accessibility Partnership, please use the
following contact details.
Transport Accessibility Officer
Transport Policy & Management
Telford & Wrekin Council
Darby House
PO Box 212
Lawn Central
Telford TF3 4LB
Telephone: 01952 384608
Email:
transport.policy@telford.gov.uk |