Conservatives save Willow Tree minibus from axe

Northolt Mandeville Conservative councillors Dawn Larmouth, Hazel Ware and Eileen Harris, (pictured along with service users) have fought to save the Willow Tree bus.

Ealing Council has stepped in to save a much needed community minibus service which was facing closure.

The Willow Tree minibus was saved after the Council agreed to stump up more than £40,000 to keep the service running until March 2009. 

The service, which is run by Ealing Community Transport (ECT), provides door-to-door transport for older people, those with mobility problems and families with younger children living in Islip Manor – an area with limited public transport services.  It launched in August 2004 using cash paid by developers as part of Section 106 agreements, but came under threat when the funding dried up last year.

Over the next nine months Council officers will review the existing level of service and seek a cost-effective long-term solution, which will involve putting a new contract out to tender.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor David Millican, said: “This is a really valuable service for a neighbourhood not served by the standard buses.  I know how well it is used and how important it is to the community.  I'm really pleased that we've been able to step in to keep it on the road, but we have to find a long-term solution."