End of the Wigglybus (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

End of the Wigglybus

11:36am Monday 29th January 2007 in News By Joanne Moore

The much loved Wigglybus that travels through the Pewsey Vale and Calne is to lose its distinctive name and face cutbacks.

Wiltshire County Council announced today that following a review of some its transport services it is now working on implementing a new flexible transport strategy for the county.

A spokesman said: "Under new contract arrangements it is streamlining some services and gaining value for money through some important changes to the services.

"The council will be involving communities in each of the service areas by providing ways for them to give structured comment and dialogue on service delivery.

"The processes needed for this partnership work are now being investigated and developed by the council."

Last year Loughborough University carried out a review of the council's flexible transport services such as the Boomerang, Wigglybus and RUH Hopper. It made recommendations on how the service could be delivered more efficiently.

It will involve a restructuring of transport services so that the experienced contractors brought in can provide economies of scale through combining services in some areas and lengthening contract periods. They will also increase use of information technology solutions, such as internet journey booking, so that overhead costs can be reduced.

Following the end of government funding for the RUH Hopper service last year and the ending of funding for the Wigglybus service this March, Wiltshire County Council has stepped in to support both services.

The county council is also in the process of buying seven new vehicles for use across its flexible transport services. These vehicles will form part of Connect 2 Wiltshire which will be the new county identity for all flexible services.

The Boomerang services, a range of flexible taxi based transport solutions operating in Wylye Valley, Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury, Bradenstoke, and shortly in the Woodford Valley, will also form part of the Connect 2 Wiltshire network.

These services will join with the RUH Hopper service, and the Wigglybus operations in Calne, Mere, the Kennet Valley and the Vale of Pewsey in being rebranded as Connect 2 Wiltshire services.

This will reflect the new comprehensive approach to flexible transport that the county council is embarking upon over the next few years.

All these changes will form the basis of a new Flexible Transport Strategy Document which will work alongside the existing Local Transport Plan.

Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, cabinet member for environment, transport and economic development, said: "Wiltshire County Council is committed to making sure that that these flexible transport operations continue to provide good value for money and a good service for passengers.

"People will see the changes as they are rolled out in the coming months. This is more than simply about putting a new name on the side of a bus. It is about getting new vehicles in and about getting more from our contractors.

"It is also about responding to the needs of those people who would otherwise find it difficult to access the transport network.

"The services perform a vital role in helping the people who live and work in Wiltshire."

For more information about Wiltshire County Council see www.wiltshire.gov.uk Notes for editors **********************************************************************