A NEW community transport initiative that will bring services to large parts of the Upper Dales has been officially launched.

The remote area was in danger of losing part of its bus service network after North Yorkshire County Council withdrew its subsidy earlier this year in the face of budget constraints and higher operating costs.

The tender for the service was opened to transport providers to come up with the best ways to meet community needs and the successful bid was made by the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership, which already operates the town’s library.

The initiative means that the scheduled bus service between Hawes and Gayle to Garsdale Station, timed to meet trains arriving from Leeds and Carlisle, will continue.

The community transport minibus will also be used for a number of other local services, as well as a demand responsive service, including: · dropping off books and DVDs from Hawes library around a circuit of villages as well as picking people up every two weeks to take them to the library · transport for young people to and from evening youth clubs and out of hours school events · journeys for mothers and babies to the children’s centre in Askrigg Coun Clare Wood, executive member for public transport, said: "I am delighted that the local community has risen to this challenge. "The county council is committed to maintaining rural bus services wherever possible and is looking for pioneering solutions such as this.

"We will be watching the success of this service very closely and expect to be able to use it as a model to inspire other communities to become involved in similar schemes."

Fares for all journeys will be at community transport rates and concessionary travel passes will be honoured on the services to Garsdale Station. Coun John Blackie, member for the Upper Dales, said: "This new service is an imaginative and innovative solution to overcoming some of the extreme difficulties to accessing services from the deeply rural Upper Dales.

"As ever the long tradition of self reliance here has brought forward a rota of volunteers ready to assist local people in helping themselves".