Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

39 enthusiasm. They report that this means everyone starts new at each of the re-launched groups, avoiding the possibility of perceived cliques forming among well established members that may put off new members. 10.1.11 Many services take place during the day, which can suit people who are retired better. However, there are many people in employment who may wish to access services in the evenings or at weekends and there is limited availability at these times. Consideration should be given to how opening hours can act as a barrier to accessing services and whether there is a need to extend or vary opening times to embrace people who work. 10.2 Transport 10.2.1 Getting to a service is a constant challenge in rural areas, and access to transport is a recurring issue. There are over 141,000 people in Tendring. 42,638 are over 65. 2011 Census data tells us that 17303 (12.5% of population) people had their day-to-day activities limited a lot by long-term conditions or disability and 17959 (13%) had their day-to-day activities limited a little. This figure will have increased over the past eight years, as the population has become older. This demonstrates how important transport is to be able to access services, especially if people are unable to drive, or have no carer/relative/friend to transport them. Access to services is generally measured by the distance to shops, chemists, libraries, petrol station and Post Offices. Data from Grant Thornton Place Analytics shows that in Essex, Tendring is among the worst performing for access to services. In general, Essex underperforms compared to both the regional and England-wide averages. 36 10.2.2 There are a number of well-established community transport schemes within Tendring that provide wheelchair accessible transport, often from the door, for those who have difficulties accessing public transport. Other schemes provide minibuses to enable people to go shopping, meet friends or attend day centres or lunch clubs. Some villages have volunteers who will support local people who are unable to drive or have no access to transport to attend hospital or other appointments in. Other villages have reported difficulties in getting access to community transport as they are outliers (e.g. Beaumont cum Moze). Known schemes in Tendring are as follows:-  Tendring East – Walton Community Care Hospital Car Service; Harwich Connexions and Hospital Hopper, Frinton and Walton Community Bus, The Silver Circle Club in Frinton.  Tendring West – Manningtree and District Community Bus, Family Support, Brightlingsea  Tendring South – Helping Hands, Clacton, Tendring Community Transport and Hospital Hopper, Tendring Eldercare 10.2.3 All these groups transport large numbers of people to hospital or GP appointments, to services in the community. Over the past year Harwich Connexions and Tendring Community transport serviced over 131,000 passenger journeys. It is reported that demand continues to outstrip supply. There is potential for Transport Schemes to work more closely with a range of smaller, widespread community groups if they have the capacity to do so. For example, Harwich Connexions has permission to run a dial-a-ride service in Harwich, Dovercourt, Parkeston, Ramsey, Little Oakley, Wrabness, Great Oakley, Stones Green, Bradfield, Bradfield, Heath, Little Bromley, Great Bromley, Horsley Cross and Street, Little Bentley and Wix. However, they can only offer transport to Harwich, Dovercourt, Parkeston, Ramsey, Little Oakley, Wrabness, Great Oakley and Wix, due to limited vehicle numbers and lack of funding. 36 Essex Community Foundation, Vital issues, 2015