Edinkillie Community Association hopes to introduce timetabled service following trial bus scheme
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A LOCAL community association says that the best way to bring transport to their rural community is to introduce a timetabled service with a paid driver.
Edinkillie Community Association (ECA) trialled a free bus scheme at the end of last year to asses how gaps in provision might best be filled.
Following the end of the trial in December last year and having had discussions with Moray Council, the association now believe that the reinstatement of part of a former bus route could be feasible.
That would see the reinstatement of part of the former 312 Tilligens bus route, running from Edinkillie Church to Forres, possibly via Relugas and Half Davoch.
The association say that they would also like to include a weekly service towards Grantown on Spey which would enable greater access to the Dava Way.
Moira Dennis, who was part of the team behind the trial last year, says that the association is now working on a plan to deliver the service for the community.
She said: "Should this plan prove workable, the absolute priority would be to run a simple and absolutely dependable service for six months, in order to establish our credentials as a reliable transport provider.
"This would probably mean a straightforward run up and down the A940.
"We would suggest a basic route and a limited timetable to start with, although clearly not so limited as to be of little use to the community."
The association says that investing in an electrical vehicle would be the "ultimate goal" but while establishing the service, an unleaded petrol vehicle may be a more suitable option.
That could cost £500 per month to lease a nine-seater for six months.
However, the plan would do nothing to help Logie Primary School which was an important user of the trial bus.
Moira added: "We wonder if a further phase of the transport plan might be to combine the timetabled service with a dial-a-ride option, even working with a volunteer driver, available between scheduled services.
"This would mean that all sectors of the community could have access to the vehicle at some point in the day or week.
"We look forward to discussing this further and to presenting a business plan in March 2023."
