COMMUNITY COMPANY

Pictured left, Mere Wigglybus and below, attendees at the WSEP launch Earlier this year local community groups worked with MTRU, who created the Wigglybus concept, to form the Wigglybus Social Enterprise Partnership (WSEP) - a non-profitmaking Community Interest Company (CIC). This put in a bid to run one of the three Wigglybus areas in Mere, and was successful - taking over operation in September 2006. The next target is to bid for the other Wigglybus services when they come up for tender in summer 2007.

One interesting aspect of this approach is that the company will seek to work with local community transport to co-ordinate both operations and marketing. Elsewhere in the UK, several community transport operators have moved on to bid for and to run public bus services.

By contrast, the WSEP has started by running a public service and will use its community roots to act as the focus for voluntary and semi-voluntary schemes, as well as organising one off excursions. This revives one of the original elements of the 1999 Wigglybus project which was never fully developed.

The WSEP will be seeking grants for training and equipment but has been established without external support and is completely independent.

An office is being set up in Mere so people can give their views on how the service can develop and be successful. The Government subsidy for the Mere Wigglybus runs out in 2007 and Wiltshire County Council will have to be convinced that is a worthwhile project if they are to take it on as part of their rural transport network.

More news on the WSEP will be posted shortly!

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