Council's Grass Routes service a multi-award winne

People in Monmouthshire have access to award winning rural bus rides now that the council's Grass Routes bus service has achieved second place in the UK Best Rural Transport Award and won last year's Operator of the Year in the Community Transport Association's annual awards for Wales.

In addition, Grass Routes stalwart Trevor Philips has scooped the title of UK Community Transport Volunteer of the Year to add to his award last year of Welsh Volunteer of the Year. 

Trevor helped to set up the service and is also a Grass Routes bus driver.

Submissions were judged by an expert panel who congratulated Grass Routes on making a tangible difference to the lives of those using the service.

Founded in September 2004, Grass Routes provides low floor vehicles to transport people over the whole of the county plus some neighbouring areas.  Grass Routes has approximately 2,500 passengers per month, covers 840 square kilometres of rural Monmouthshire and is a lifeline for current members with accessibility difficulties or restriction to limited services.

Richard Cope, Monmouthshire County Council's Passenger Transport Unit Manager, said:

"Grass Routes responds to demand and we're very flexible in meeting people's needs.  This provision has changed the whole perspective of rural bus services and has provided a lifeline to public facilities. We run to large shopping areas, supermarkets, dentists, hospitals and churches and back.

"The service is run on a booking system where members reserve the bus up to 24 hrs in advance.  We receive tremendous comments from all members and we have feedback cards to record these. Residents of Monmouthshire have regained their independence and also enjoy the social interaction of travelling on our vehicles.

"The service relies on volunteer drivers, and members of the community work in partnership on a voluntary basis with the authority as a management board for the scheme."

One of these volunteer drivers and a founder of the service, Trevor Phillips, characterises the spirit of Grass Routes.  Trevor won Community Transport Volunteer of the Year and was runner up in the Best Rural Transport Awards, both awarded by the Community Transport Association.

Richard Cope said:

"Trevor has been involved with Grass Routes from the very first day. He identified a large gap in the needs of the area and put a proposition to Monmouthshire County Council for a community service. He started the process of applying for funding to buy the first bus.

"Trevor has also been on the Grass Routes Partnership board from the beginning and is still a very active member. He drives the bus every Thursday and has built a great rapport with regular passengers.  Trevor also accompanies groups on outings and takes an active interest in all areas of community work volunteering.

"Trevor is what volunteering is all about and he has made a big difference to the lives of many people in Monmouthshire."

He has become very much part of a large and successful community transport project."