CONCERNS have been raised by Devon County Council about the detrimental impact that potential licensing changes for community transport could have on vulnerable people in the county.

In the West Devon area numerous community transport groups and services are under threat after a commercial bus company challenged current UK guidance in the European courts.

As a result, community buses with more than nine seats would be subject to the same regulations as buses, minibuses and coaches run for profit and community transport drivers would have to have the same qualifications as professional drivers.

The cost of such licences and qualifications would be crippling to such groups.

Up to now, community transport, run for the benefit of local people, has effectively been exempt from full commercial licensing.

In its response to the Department for Transport’s national consultation on the licensing of community transport to comply with EU regulations, the county council has highlighted how the proposals could affect passengers and community transport operators in Devon.

If the proposals are introduced, voluntary and community transport groups will either have to achieve full commercial licensing standards or meet certain restrictions to gain an exemption from EU rules.

The county council says this could bring significant additional costs to the sector and may make it uneconomical for some groups to continue to operate.

It has warned that a reduction in community transport services may increase the amount of public spending required to maintain essential transport services for vulnerable people – such as elderly and disabled people and those in isolated rural areas without access to public transport.

A reduction in community transport services could put more pressure on statutory services, particularly social care and the NHS.

In Devon, the community transport sector accounts for approximately 239,000 passenger trips a year.