TRAVELLING around rural South Lakeland could soon become a little easier thanks to a package of measures to help youths become more foot-loose and fancy free.

Over a ten-week trial period a series of extra buses will be laid on to help young people get around. The buses will be run by commercial operators but paid for by Cumbria County Council at a cost of £10,000. Meanwhile, two new mini-buses are also due to become available for use by local groups, including youth organisations.

A young persons concessionary fares scheme has also been to help youngsters get around.

Cumbria County Council local committee for South Lakeland heard a number of supplementary bus routes had been chosen with the help of young people for a ten-week experiment.

CCC youth worker Dave Wrigley said: "Because most bus services stop at around 6pm young people cannot get out of their communities in the evenings to access services and activities such as youth clubs. We will be monitoring the busses to work out demand. The message we want to send out to commercial operators is if it is a viable route then do something about it. We are aware this project will only work if we really promote it."

CCC education spokesman Coun Joan Stocker said: "It will be a case of use it or lose it."

The committee also heard £40,000 of public funds had been earmarked to buy two minibuses to help provide cheaper public transport to community groups. The new vehicles will be owned and maintained by CCC but rented out to users at an affordable rate.

The vehicles, which have yet to be bought, will be based in Kendal and Ulverston.

South Lakeland Local Committee chairman Anne Parker welcomed the investment.

She said: "In our rural communities many people face daily problems in accessing local services. Consultation with young people has made us particularly aware of the transport problems they face, leading to them missing out on activities they would otherwise chose to take part in."

February 12, 2003 08:30