A meeting is planned for 7.45pm on July 27 at Holsworthy Memorial Hall, to decide the future of the Holsworthy Rural Community Transport Ltd (HRCT).

The meeting will be chaired by local MP for Torridge and West Devon, Sir Geoffrey Cox QC, who has already pledged his support.

HRCT provides an invaluable service to those who are isolated and without reliable transport in Holsworthy and its rural parishes.

The group operate the ‘Ring & Ride’ buses throughout the Holsworthy and Bude district, enabling people to have social outings, or simply go shopping. The volunteer ‘Cars for Care’ service enables residents to attend hospital and other medical and health related appointments.  They also offer an affordable minibus hire option for community groups and clubs for outings and fixtures, who would otherwise have to use cars, as there are no other commercial options available.  In these ways, they support hundreds of local people every year.

However, over recent years costs have spiked and the group is facing closure if additional funding cannot be found.

On behalf of the group Chairman of the trustees Martin Prentice said: “We need your help. In recent years, the HRCT trustees have been very successful in securing the necessary financial support to run our services.  These include payments from Devon County Council for school run contracts, and a very modest grant from Torridge District Council (now zero).  By far the largest direct support has come from the Big Lottery from which we have been successful in securing major grants on three occasions over the past 13 years.

“However, although we are exploring every alternative option, it is most unlikely that we will succeed for a fourth time and HRCT is now facing having to cease operations and go out of existence next year unless the shortfall can be made up.

“For this reason, we have decided to hold a meeting to consult the community, its elected representatives of our town and parishes, district and county councils, representatives of community organisations and others, to discuss solutions and establish whether HRCT can be saved.

“At that meeting, the trustees will present a detailed picture of the financial situation.  We know there is a willingness on the part of many individuals to help, but a viable basis for continued operations, with vehicles and staff to maintain, will require a commitment to sustain HRCT for at least three years.”

They hope that if sufficient contributors and sponsors can be found, HRCT could continue beyond 2023.  Moreover, the evidence of the community’s support could be very helpful in securing additional grants so they hope to welcome as many people to the meeting as possible.

Mr Prentice added: “The trustees felt it only right to consult the community and to establish if there is a will to preserve our HRCT before taking the sad, but inevitable step, unless a way forward can be found, of bringing our services to an end in 2023, as so many other Community Transport Associations (CTA) have already done.”