Introduction
1.1. Brief History
Over the last fifty years mobility has become a prerequisite for
wealth creation and social inclusion. While most communities have
responded by increasing transport facilities, residents in the
Camelford & Delabole area of North Cornwall have seen their
options reduced to one: the private car. The demand for regeneration
plans to respond to this problem is coming from the community
and one innovative alternative has recently been adopted.
The
Camelford Economic Regeneration Feasibility Report (Ball, May
2000) Sustainable Initiatives and sub-section 3.05 described the
notion of (then) an electric bus service:
… a regular service running between Camelford and the outlying
villages, for instance, Delabole, St Teath, Tintagel and Boscastle,
encouraging economic and social interaction between communities.
These mini-buses, run on electricity generated at the Wind Farm,
at a cost which has been assured as being lower than if obtained
directly from the National Grid. As a community benefiting enterprise
the savings made on fuel consumption could relate to lower fares,
in comparison to existing services, thus further encouraging its
use.
Since
this report was published there have been considerable developments,
including the move to hydrogen as the fuel of choice for propelling
the buses and the promotion of a figure-of-eight route to service
the largest proportion of the population within an area defined
by the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative. (please refer to
map for indicative route).
The
Delabole Development Group and the Camelford Town Forum are in
agreement that project development should be carried out jointly.
These regeneration groups have instructed the Camelford &
Delabole Community Development Trust to act as the lead organisation
to pursue financial and technical support and to create a consortium
to deliver the project.
Two
feasibility studies have been completed and are used as the basis
for developing this business plan.
“ The project has great potential as a community-enhancing
development addressing issues of transport related social exclusion
and economic regeneration in an area that has featured repeatedly
in the list of 20 worse Travel to Work areas in England. The report
noted that “The car was overwhelmingly perceived…as
offering the only option”. However “The proposed timetable
addresses (this) through its comprehensiveness as well as its
convenience in terms of daily routines and destinations. Its frequency
of service is important since frequency and reliability are the
two most important aspects of a bus service as far as passengers
are concerned.”
Current
Situation
Funds are being sought to establish the infrastructure to manufacture
hydrogen from wind-generated electricity at the Gaia Energy Centre.
Negotiations are proceeding between CDCDT and bus operators in
the area to determine the best arrangement for setting up the
consortium. Discussions with representatives of the East Cornwall
Rural Transport Partnership, Countryside Agency, Cornwall County
Council and North Cornwall District Council are clarifying roles
and responsibilities and outlining sources of support for the
project.
Policy
There is a great deal of current government policy that this project
will address directly, including:
2.2.1.From the Department of Transport’s Local Transport
Web page: The Government is committed to modernising local transport
as part of its overall strategy to create a sustainable and integrated
transport system, and provide the public with greater travel choice
in making their journeys. This will be made possible by the Government's
…10 Year Transport Plan of which around one third is earmarked
for local transport. The first instalment - £8.4 billion
over the next 5 years - was allocated to local authorities last
December, to implement their local transport plans. It will enable
authorities, in partnership with local people, transport operators,
businesses and others, to deliver real improvements on the ground,
helping to achieve the ambitious outcomes and targets set in the
10 Year Plan.
2.2.2 From the Cornwall County Council Local Transport Plan: Widening
Travel Choices and Integration: aims to develop seamless, integrated
transport system which is interactive with walking, cycling, public
transport and the private car. Quality partnerships involving
transport operators, local businesses and other stakeholders feature
strongly.
2.2.3. From the Cornwall County Council Structure Plan: The transport
strategy set out in the Structure Plan gives an enhanced role
for public transport, cycling and walking. The management of transport
demand (traffic restraint) is seen as a necessity and a move to
a regime of demand management, designed to make effective and
environmentally acceptable use of existing and new transport infrastructure
is required. To achieve this the transport policies and proposals
are based on the following key elements:
the development of alternatives to the private car to ensure a
more energy efficient and environmental sustainable transport
strategy, including the promotion of greater public awareness
of the implications of travel
2.2.4. From the Countryside Agency Rural White Paper: Good quality
local transport, responsive to people’s needs; flexible,
well marketed, well integrated, stable and reliable. Better coordination
of services, to make the best use of what is available,,,filling
the gaps, in those areas which are not adequately served by scheduled
services. A stronger role for local communities in identifying
needs and in deciding how those needs can be met and more funds
for small local projects.
2.2.5. From Social Exclusion and the Provision and Availability
of Public Transport (July 200): Transport provision must be considered
across central and local government and as a component part of
all services, eg work, health and social services, shops, education,
leisure etc. Availability and accessibility are also key issues.
The Product in relationship to the market
This project will redefine the market for transport. For the first
time in fifty years the residents of this area of North Cornwall
will be able to choose their form of public transport. The closure
of the railways, the demise of family owned and operated coach
companies and the perception that walking and cycling are dangerous
or out-moded, have all contributed to the hegemony of the private
motor car. However, economic and environmental considerations
indicate that this state of affairs will change again and people
will require a wider choice of transportation. This project, as
just one element of a broader regeneration programme, is aimed
to stimulate the market for transportation options at the same
time as providing the means by which people will be able to participate
in the renaissance of the local economy.
Additionality
In an area that is extremely impoverished in terms of access to
public transport, this project will provide a unique option for
approximately 12,000 people in the geographic area defined by
the Camelford & Delabole Market & Coastal Towns Initiative.
Use of a sustainable, non-polluting fuel system, providing a comprehensive
service with a strong local brand, will increase community self-esteem.
It will also be of great interest to many of the 80,000 tourists
who visit the area annually, offering them a unique way to reach
the many sites of historic interest and areas of outstanding natural
beauty in an environmentally sound form of transport. It will
reduce traffic problems in settlements that struggle to cope with
the influx of vehicles in summer by offering an informal ‘park
& ride’ facility to visitors.
Relationship to existing businesses and providers
Every effort is being made to create a scheme that provides employment
for people and organisations within the community that the bus
operation will serve. For this reason, the opportunity to participate
in this project has been extended to local bus operators, rather
than setting up a new bus operation for this project. Early discussions
with government bodies responsible for public transport promotion
have ensured that this project complements and enhances existing
public bus services. We have also ascertained that this project
fits with planned developments to public transport services in
North Cornwall. It is recognised that this project will change
people’s existing travel patterns and therefore will require
close liaison with the established business sector. With regard
to businesses within the service area, special promotions will
be organised to determine local transportation patterns so that
this project can offer the best possible service.
Proven need
The bus service will target four groups within the community
Ø older people who would prefer to be driven than to have
to drive
Ø young people who have no transportation options
Ø disabled people who currently have significant mobility
problems and
Ø second car owners who require a cheaper, more reliable
alternative.
The project overview in the pre-feasibility study (Barrett, September
2001) states: The need for reliable and economic transport is
especially important in an area such as North Cornwall…the
1991 census showed that while 85% of households in rural areas
had at least one car and 41% had two or more, 84% of residents
in rural areas of Cornwall had one car and only 34% had access
to two or more. Cornwall is also known to have an exceptionally
high proportion of old cars that, due to their age, are prone
to breaking down. On top of this, Cornwall has the highest number
of (disabled) badge holders per head of population in the country.
Help the Aged support this scheme and have participated in project
development as access to good quality, reliable public transport
is a key issue for their clients.
Development
plans
The post pilot phase report will identify development into the
operational phase. However, a number of possibilities are already
being proposed for consideration
Ø moving beyond the figure of eight route to a more comprehensive
“daisy petal” or spoke and hub service to all parishes
that regard Camelford & Delabole as their commercial and economic
centre
Ø provision of transport services to primary and secondary
schools in the area
Ø direct connections to other important centres in Cornwall,
especially environmentally conscious visitor centres needing to
promote CO2 neutral transport options.
Ø Provision of commuter and cargo shuttle services to local
business parks.
Added value to local economy
Ø The hydrogen economy
The buses will run on locally manufactured fuel, reducing reliance
on the global economy and reducing Cornwall’s historical
situation of being a net exporter of wealth. The trend away from
fossil fuels towards renewable, sustainable fuel sources and consumption
systems will be highly visible in this project. It is the first
of its kind, highly innovative and extremely important to the
broad regeneration programme that is taking place in the Camelford
& Delabole area. There are significant implications for the
larger economy when the evaluation of this project is complete
and it can be replicated elsewhere.
Ø The social economy
Significant added value will be achieved by providing mobility
to residents in the area. As a keystone project in the regeneration
programme, it will enable people to participate economically and
socially in a ways that have not been available before. It will
be a highly visible, locally identifiable, symbol of regeneration
and local initiative and creating self esteem. Reducing the need
for second vehicles will release the money currently required
to operate them for more valuable uses within the community.
Ø The retail economy
As part of the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative, this project
is aimed to increase residents’ participation in the local
economy. Opportunities are being developed to support local produce
markets, arts outlets and health-related leisure pursuits such
as walking, cycling and surfing. For these activities to succeed,
reliable transport systems are needed to enable participants to
attend.
Product
Promotion
Providing a new public transportation option requires a focussed,
comprehensive programme of promotion and publicity. The business
community will be targeted to ensure employers and employees are
aware of the service. The schools in the area will be canvassed
and offered facilities for carrying student groups from afternoon
clubs, and to local events and places of interest that can enhance
the curriculum. The buses themselves will have a distinctive livery
and, once a policy has been agreed, will carry promotional materials
for local organisations and businesses. Advertising will be concentrated
in parish magazines and area-wide newspapers. For example, the
Forum newsletter provides information to residents in the area
defined by the Camelford & Delabole Market & Coastal Towns
Initiative. It is delivered to every household so this would be
an ideal vehicle for promoting the service on a regular basis.
A website will be developed with links to and from appropriate
sites.
Collaboration
with other businesses
In addition to promotion and partnerships described above, collaboration
with other business will be based on activities that are of mutual
advantage. For example, the Camelford and Delabole Community Development
Trust are considering other Community Enterprise schemes, so there
will be administrative and management systems development that
can be shared when appropriate. Community Enterprise is itself
an emerging business concept, so the bus service will be a beacon
project which will set important trends for local economic development.
A number of other businesses have approached us regarding the
possibility of advertising on the buses and this project will
work in close association with visitor centres to ensure the most
effective service is provided, especially where connections to
walking, cycling and surfing facilities can be made.
Risk Assessment
Ø If the anticipated supply of hydrogen as a fuel source
is not available: research, and development if necessary, will
be carried out to secure alternative CO2 neutral fuel supplies,
including bio-diesel, battery power etc. Emphasis will continue
to be placed on local production and operation.
Ø
If the skills (especially availability of qualified drivers) are
not available: A programme of training will be developed based
on the local demographic situation. For example, there is evidence
that some societal groups who are not traditionally associated
with work in the public transport sector, such as young mothers,
may take on a part-time role if it fits with other demands on
their time.
Exit
Strategy
The evaluation that takes place on completion of the pilot phase
of this project will determine the future of the business. Assuming
that the business is to continue, three elements of an exit strategy
have been identified:
Ø Income generation will have reached levels that indicate
economic viability
Ø Local government subsidies for provision of essential
public transport services will be made available
Ø The continued development of the of hydrogen economy
will provide cheaper fuel and operating costs
