CONCERNS have been raised about the future of a community transport scheme with a number of significant funding cuts set to be announced later this week.

On Thursday, Swindon Borough Council will approve a budget for the following year which includes £20 million in savings.

Included within the proposals is ‘a review of community transport service provision in order to achieve value for money whilst minimising impact on the service users’, which will lead to a saving of £100,000.

Council chiefs say this is a much needed wider review to make sure the transport department can provide a full range of services, but Labour feel it will lead to the Dial A Ride charity being hit as the main community service.

This volunteer bus service is used by disabled people who need to get around and receives roughly £300,000 a year from the council.

However, its contract expires later this year leading to fears it is in line to bear the brunt of the £100,000 cut.

Councillor Jim Robbins (Lab, Mannington and Western) said: “The Dial A Ride service was set-up to reduce isolation and give the elderly and disabled an opportunity to have a better quality of life.

“A cut in this service will simply reduce the number of people and frequency of transport services provided by Dial A Ride.

“These are some of the most disabled people who simply cannot get around the town without specialised transport.

“The effects of this cut are completely unknown and that is a big worry for me and could be a big worry for Dial A Ride service users.

“This proposed cut is just one in a long line of proposed cuts to the Dial A Ride service and I think it shows that the Conservative administration have never really grasped the value of this service.”

But Conservatives have hit back at the claims and said a full review is needed to make sure services are able to keep operating in several years.

Around £2.5 million is spent on community transport, of which £2 million comes from the government and will be cut.

The cabinet member for transport, Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), says it makes sense to review what is offered.

He said: “It would be the height of stupidity to bury heads in the sand and deny this situation exists but this seems to be Labour's position.

“It is absolutely essential that a comprehensive review takes place on the £2.5 million over the summer to ensure we find a way for the Highways department to balance its books while continuing to repair our roads, protect local bus services, and ensure there is transport for the disabled and elderly and that the valued work of Dial A Ride continues.

“The Labour spokesman has found the time to talk to the media, yet hasn't asked any questions to check his facts, did not speak up at the last two Council meetings when this review was proposed, and hasn't proposed or consulted on any alternative budget savings."