OIC transport grants to keep communities connected

Community transport solutions - including three totally new initiatives - have been granted up to £44,000 funding by Orkney Islands Council to improve connectivity in some of our most fragile communities.

A total of eight eligible bids for funding were received by the Council’s Transportation service, following promotion of the Community Transport Small Grants Scheme for funding of up to £10,000 per project.

OIC’s Transportation Service Manager, Laura Cromarty, said: “This was a great response and we’re delighted to see three new isles projects in the mix for 2023-24.

“We reviewed our Community Transport Grant scheme last year, which resulted in the creation of a small grants scheme with a simplified application and approval process.”

The funding awarded will enable the continuation of a community transport service in Hoy with an extended service to connect with the Moaness ferry (Island of Hoy Development Trust), and the continued operation of the out of hours ferry for Shapinsay (Shapinsay Development Trust) and Papa Westray (Papay Development Trust) for social and leisure activities.

Newly established community transport services in Rousay, Stronsay and North Ronaldsay (through Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust; Stronsay Development Trust; and North Ronaldsay Trust respectively) have also been awarded funding.

Continued funding has also been awarded to Dial a Bus for door to door transport services across mainland Orkney from the large grant scheme. Additional funding during 2023/24 will be provided to enhance this valued service further.

The number of eligible projects well exceeded the community transport budget available. Match funding for the projects has come from the Council’s Sustainable and Green Transport Fund to help make up the shortfall – a pot fed by ticket income from the Council’s subsidised public bus services and earmarked for improvements to local transport such as additional services, bus shelters and community transport projects.

Councillor David Dawson is Chair of OIC’s Development and Infrastructure Committee: “Our Transportation team works hard to try and support communities where standard public transport services are just not feasible – so this is a gratifying result for the Council and communities and I wish each of these projects the very best.”