Peninsula Transport and Western Gateway Sub-national transport bodies (STBs) have together awarded £110k to support the development of six innovative projects aimed at improving transport in rural Southwest places.

The schemes funded in the Peninsula Transport region are:

The Gateway project, Torpoint 

The trial will test bus service viability, integration with ferry timetables, improved passenger information and local demand, providing data to inform future operational or commercial services.  

The scheme aims to improve rural and cross‑ferry transport in the Tamar and Rame areas by building a clear picture of how people currently travel, working with communities to design better options, and testing small, targeted transport pilots that respond to real local needs.

One Ilfracombe Project 

Creating a shared, low-carbon transport solution that directly supports unemployed residents into sustainable jobs while trialling scalable models for rural mobility. It will aim to deliver an integrated skills, employment, and rural mobility programme in Ilfracombe, designed to address two of the most persistent barriers to work: lack of qualifications and lack of accessible transport. 

Intergenerational Volunteering  

Aiming to strengthen rural mobility in Devon by enhancing the sustainability of community car schemes. It will launch a county-wide volunteer recruitment campaign targeting under-65s, whilst also supporting older volunteers to address generational gaps in volunteering. 

Cllr John Stephens, Chair of the Peninsula Transport Board said: “Following the positive outcomes of previous pilot initiatives, we are pleased to support a further programme of rural mobility schemes. It is essential that areas with limited public transport provision receive appropriate attention alongside urban centres. Effective and accessible transport networks play a critical role in improving access to services, education and employment, reducing isolation, and supporting sustainable economic development.”

The Peninsula Transport region encompasses Somerset, Devon, Torbay, Plymouth and Cornwall which include large areas of rural environments. Over 40% of the region’s population live in rural communities compared with 17% nationally.

Last year’s pilot scheme funding facilitated the Bodmin and Lanivet Community Bus Scheme. The scheme is proving to be a success and has improved the transport for the local residents living in the rural communities in and around Bodmin, Cornwall. 

Peninsula Transport’s neighbouring STB, Western Gateway, has also awarded £60k to fund transport schemes in its respective region, from Gloucestershire down to Bournemouth. 

The Western Gateway funded schemes include:

• A shuttle bus linking Lyme Regis and Bridport, led by Lyme Regis Town Council
• A scheme combining real-time parking information with coach/tour operator collaboration to ease visitor pressure and improve sustainable access to the Cotswolds
• A project to identify a range of integrated rural transport solutions in south east Dorset, led by Dorset Council.

The pilots will be supported and evaluated by the STBs, sharing lessons learned and the potential for replication in other rural locations.

(Picture: Peninsula Transport)