NEW operators have taken over the running of Tavistock’s popular Ring and Ride service after the charity which has provided the service for nearly 30 years was forced to pull out.

Westlands Transport has taken over the service after the Tavistock and District Local Transport Partnership (TDLTP) had to make a ‘painful decision’ to hand the service back to Devon County Council as it could no longer legally continue to operate the service due to changes in legislation concerning community transport services.

Volunteer trustees started the TDLTP Ring and Ride minibus service in June 1990, with funding support from Devon County Council (DCC), West Devon Borough Council, Tavistock Town Council and contributions from many of the parish council areas it served.

The TDLTP said community transport in the UK had operated for many years using certain permits which allowed small, not-for-profit organisations — like the TDLTP — to operate mini-buses to provide transport services to the local community without the need for a full Public Service Vehicle licence. In Devon, these services were overseen by Devon County Council’s community transport team, which provided much of the funding for services such as the Ring and Ride.

The charity said community transport in the UK had been in the spotlight recently, due to challenges by larger operators to the way in which these services were operated. These challenges are currently under judicial review.

In a statement, trustees of the TDLTP said: ‘The TDLTP have run the service for over 20 years, but recent changes to the way the legislation concerning community transport services in general are interpreted, have meant that we are no longer able to continue to do so.

‘We are very pleased that Westlands have been able to step in and take over the day-to-day operation of the service, meaning that our passengers will continue to be able to use this vital community service and our staff will continue to operate it.

‘For some time, the TDLTP trustees have been in discussion with DCC about how our running of the service was going to be affected by these challenges and initially it did look as there there would not be any immediate effect. However, we were recently advised that due to the way that permits were regulated, we would not be able to legally continue to operate the service. The trustees therefore had to make the painful decision to hand back the service to DCC, so that a new operator could take over.

‘Although we are pleased that our passengers and staff will continue to see the service continue in the area, it is a very sad day for the TDLTP trustees, who have worked hard as un-paid volunteers to organise and run the service for over 20 years.’

DCC has helped negotiate the transition and is continuing to fund the service.

Cllr Roger Croad, DCC cabinet member for transport, said: ‘Our thanks go to the staff and volunteers of TDLTP for running this vital service for so many years, helping countless people in the Tavistock area to get out and about and access important services. We are grateful to Westlands for stepping in to continue the service and we wish them every success and hope people continue to support the Ring and Ride.’

People who don’t have their own transport and cannot use regular public transport can ring to book a seat on the door to door service on 07939 093232, between 9.30am and 1.30pm, Monday to Friday.