Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

40 10.2.4 For people who are able to get into a standard car easily, without wheelchair access, there are Car-Share Schemes operating throughout Tendring District. Where such schemes exist, the challenge is to maintain staff and volunteer numbers. There are, however, many rural communities who do not have access to public or community transport, so this is a gap which will need some consideration. 10.2.5 Tendring villages provide well for their residents in terms of local services. For those who live in more rural settings, the need for transport is critical, to enable them to enjoy a feeling of inclusion and reduce their isolation. There are a large number of community transport schemes and volunteer car driver schemes, but local bus services have been reduced and access to the bus stop alone can be problematic for many people. To be compliant with legislation, most transport schemes require a charge of £1 for membership, with the journey cost on top of that. 10.2.6 Car ownership in parts of Tendring is comparatively low, which means that transport needs are relatively high. Tendring East and Tendring South have significantly more households without a car than Tendring West. In Pier ward 49%, Alton Park 41% and Harwich East 38% of households have no car; this compares with Ardleigh and Bromley at 7% and Thorrington, Frating, Elmstead and Great Bromley at 8%, so there are considerable differences across the District (see Appendix 3). Tendring Community Transport (TCT) and Harwich Connexions support each other with:  Funding Sources  Sharing information and good practice  Sharing networking opportunities They are working in partnership to grow community transport services across the Tendring District, specifically between the Clacton and Harwich hospitals and the surrounding areas as there are little or no transport links. The service will operate six days per week between 09:00 – 17:00; it will be split between the two organisations enabling people to access hospitals, GP surgeries, health/medical centres, community groups and social/leisure activities. People will be able to access affordable food supermarkets, training, education, job opportunities across Tendring. The purpose of both organisations is to provide transport services to people who are unable or find it difficult to access conventional transport. This is achieved by providing people who are at the margins of society with services which will allow them to access local amenities. The services we provide enables people to live independently for longer in their own homes, prevents loneliness and rural/social isolation. 10.2.7 The Government’s Community Transport Enquiry in 2017 37 stated, in its response to consultation, that “The Government has long made clear its belief in the vital importance of the services provided by community transport operators. Many community transport operators are in effect also providers of social care services, especially to people who are elderly, isolated and disabled, and they are generally motivated by compassion and philanthropy, not profit.” 37 The Community Transport and the Department for Transport's proposed consultation: Government Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2017-19