New shuttle and community bus welcomed

A new shuttle bus service between Amesbury town centre and Solstice Park was officially launched at Holiday Inn Salisbury-Stonehenge, on Monday 12th November 2007, by the Mayor of Amesbury, Fred Westmoreland. The event was extremely well supported by employees at Solstice Park, local resident groups, charities and local dignitaries from Salisbury District Council, Wiltshire County Council and Amesbury Town Council.

The 'Solstice Shuttle' run by local Community Transport Group COMTRANS South Wiltshire provides a free, dedicated and efficient service for workers at Solstice Park during the morning and evening commute. The shuttle runs in conjunction with Wilts and Dorset and Stagecoach services with arrivals and departures from Amesbury Bus Station (Stand E) with the kind permission of Wilts and Dorset.

Jim Bell, Depot Manager for Wilts and Dorset commented "we are pleased to provide interchange between our regular bus services and the shuttle at Amesbury bus station; this will make it easy for people to travel to and from Solstice Park by bus rather than by car".

Alexandra Spencer, Marketing Executive for Solstice Park said "the initiative is funded by our Green Travel account, to encourage workers to use more sustainable transport options rather than their car, to help reduce vehicle congestion and pollution.

Alexandra added, as well as providing a valuable service for employees at Solstice Park, a unique collaboration has been formed with COMTRANS SW to make the bus available to community groups outside the peak travel periods, in evenings and at weekends. This new opportunity means that COMTRANS SW can build on the service they already provide to help people with limited mobility get out and about".

Chair of COMTRANS, Elizabeth Piner said "by working with Solstice Park to provide the shuttle service we have acquired 'The Amesbury Community Bus', which will be available to all community groups in Amesbury and could be used to provide a regular service for individual people with limited mobility to shop, socialise, or have days out. Thanks to Salisbury District Council we have a community bus stop in the central car park.

This is our first venture working with the commercial sector and we thank Solstice Park, Amesbury Town Council, Salisbury District Council and Community First for their support in what we are sure will be a successful alliance".

Paul Sample, Leader of both Salisbury District Council and the Liberal Democrat group said "sustainable transport initiatives are a major priority for Salisbury District Council. The new political administration at Bourne Hill is committed to improving access to public transport and to reducing dependence on the car.

As a Council, we will shortly be going ahead with the final park and ride scheme, on the A36 south of Salisbury. We will also be pressing the case for improved cycle ways like the Connect 2 project at Wilton and Alderbury. And we are taking steps to vastly expand and develop concessionary fares.

I am therefore delighted with this new service. Solstice Park is to be commended for this initiative, which is being funded through their unique Green Travel account. It would be good to see similar initiatives, elsewhere in the District, to encourage workers to choose sustainable transport options - rather than the private car. Anything we can do to help reduce vehicle congestion and pollution is an investment in the future of our planet. The great news about this service is that the whole community will benefit - which has to be good news".

Ms. Spencer, said "we are delighted to be launching a service that we believe will be an attractive travel option for employees at Solstice Park and are equally thrilled to be 'working with the community' by providing Amesbury and surrounding area with a 16-seater minibus for local community to use. Anyone wishing to enquire about the community bus should contact COMTRANS on: 01722 410123".