Latest News
DERBYSHIRE TRANSPORT SURVEY
In March 2021, the government published a new National Bus Strategy which sets out a framework for how bus services can recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and a vision for future improvements across England. The strategy places a requirement on Derbyshire County Council local bus companies to work together to create a Bus Service Improvement Plan. This will involve developing bold plans for improving local bus services and encouraging more people to use them.
The government has pledged £3 billion in funding across the country to help deliver these plans, and Derbyshire is aiming to secure a fair share of that funding.
We want to ensure that improvement plan reflects the views of Derbyshire residents and those visiting or working in the county and we would like to ask you to complete a short questionnaire that Derbyshire County Council have produced. To access the questionnaire please use the following link https://systraltd.researchfeedback.net/dcc_bsip_survey
COVID UPDATE AHEAD OF 19TH JULY 2021
As the restrictions start to lift on 19th July we have made the decision to keep our current Covid protection regime in place to continue to help keep everyone safe.
We are proposing to retain, for the foreseeable future or until national guidelines become available, the principles of our Covid 19 safety measures (as outlined in our approved Risk Assessments). These will include:
- All buses being sanitised with the industry leading X-Mist sanitiser spray
- Availability and use of hand sanitiser on all vehicles
- 1m+ social distancing wherever possible
- Request to passengers to continue to use face coverings (unless they are exempt)
- Drivers to retain PPE and wear face coverings when carrying passengers.
To find out more about our services call 01335 300670
NEWS UPDATE JULY 2021
The Board of ACT would like to thank its partner Enterprise Flex-e-Rent for its generous donation of £2000 from the Enterprise Foundation Fund and for tis ongoing support for our Charity.
Enterprise are the long standing supplier of our contract hire minibuses and have worked with us for many years; assisting with the delivery of a range of vehicles from standard minibuses to the custom-built vehicles we need to carry our wide range of passengers, especially those in rural areas where highly flexible vehicles are required.
COVID UPDATE
ACT continues to invest in ensuring that all our vehicles and your journeys are Covid-Safe.
Following the Government’s decision to delay the lifting of the national Covid-19 restrictions we have maintained our 1m plus social distancing rule – and the mandatory wearing of face masks – on most of our journeys. For your safety we also continue to ensure that all our vehicles are sanitised on at least a weekly basis with the X-Mist sanitising system and our drivers will continue to use PPE as required including the wearing of face masks on all journeys.
However in response to work carried out for the major bus operators by the Confederation of Passenger Transport organisations (CPT) the Dept of Transport has now relaxed the 1m rule for buses and coaches with front facing seats. This allows more passengers to be carried but face masks are still required. Therefore for groups we can carry up to 16 passengers if the group agrees to accept this ruling at the time of booking.
NEWS UPDATE JUNE 2021
This month we're excited to announce that we've teamed up with Beaumonts of Ashbourne to offer our Shopping Bus Customers a free drink with any food ordered as a thank you for using our services.
Next month will also see the launch of our new Friday and Saturday evening services as part of Ashbourne Little Bus Co and Derbyshire Connect. This service is supporting the Discover Ashbourne Campaign, helping locals and holiday makers to leave their vehicles at home to enjoy an evening in Ashbourne or one of the surrounding villages on route. We have teamed up with some of the pubs and bars around the town to offer a discount when our flyer is show.
The first weekend in July will also see our first ever mini bus service in support of the Ashbourne StreetFest. We've put on extra services during the Saturday to help ease traffic congestion in the town and offer locals any easy and stress free way of enjoying the day.
Call us 01335 300670 to find out about any of our services.
NEWS UPDATE MARCH 2021
Charity Update
Thank you to all those families who have made a donation to our Charity in memory of a loved one. It is very pleasing to know that our services are of benefit to so many people.
Take care and stay safe
The ACT Team
COVID-19 UPDATE JANUARY 2021
During the latest lockdown Ashbourne Community Transport will continue to provide the following essential door-to-door services and our office will be open 0800-1700h daily.
Work, Healthcare and Shopping
Derbyshire Connect local service for villages between Wirksworth and Ashbourne
Moorlands Connect local service for Staffordshire Moorlands residents linking villages with Leek, Ashbourne and Buxton
And for connections with scheduled bus and train services.
Call 01335 342951 or email bookings@moorlandsconnect.co.uk or bookings@derbyshireconnect.org.uk
Essential Shopping
Derbyshire Connect Shopping buses, supported by Derbyshire County Council, will continue to provide a weekly service for essential shopping from all villages across West Derbyshire – call 01335 300670 for information or to book
ACT will also continue to provide regular shopping runs in East Staffordshire – in and to Uttoxeter and Burton – for those with no other means of accessible transport
Hospital and GP Appointments including Covid-19 Vaccination appointments
Call 01335 300670 or email enquiries@ashbournect.org.uk for information or booking. Please give as much notice as possible in order to ensure that we can meet your appointment times
Prescription Collection
In partnership with local dispensaries and GP services. Call 01335 300670 or email enquiries@ashbournect.org.uk. Prescriptions can be collected and delivered daily.
For you safety Since the start of the pandemic we have adopted a high standard of regular bus sanitisation using the recognised X-mist sanitisation system. This process along with other safety measures will be continued.
Please call us on 01335 300670 if you need advice about any of these services or any other journeys.
Take care and stay safe
The ACT Team
Xmas Cheer Raffle News
We would like to give a special thanks to those businesses and individuals throughout our operational area who donated raffle prizes this year.
John Preston Home
Fresh Choice Ashbourne
Marks Butchers Ashbourne
Nigels Butchers Ashbourne
Natural Choice Ashbourne
M&S Ashbourne and Matlock
Britannia Taxis Glossop
David Neil Ashbourne
Meynall Langley Garden Centre, Kirk Langley
Wyaston Garden Centre
Tesco Glossop
Aldi Glossop
Members of the Board of Trustees and Staff of Ashbourne CT, especially Donna, Becky, Claire, Megan, Andy, Des and Dave.
In total 30 prizes went into the draw. This year in recognition of the challenging year many of our regular passengers have faced, the Raffle has been dedicated to these passengers. The Raffle was drawn by Trustee Arthur Watts on 29 December 2020 and the prizes will be delivered to the lucky winners over the next few days.
LOCKDOWN UPDATE NOV 2020
With the support of Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Councils our services are running throughout the 2nd lockdown (5 November – 2 December) for essential journeys. You can still travel for work, food shopping and healthcare and hospital appointments.
We can also help those who might be self isolating, or unable to use other forms of transport, with:
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the collection of prescriptions from GP surgeries (we have special arrangements with Clifton Road, Ashbourne Medical Centre and Brailsford & Hulland Ward) or Pharmacies such as Boots and Lloyds
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essential food deliveries to your home, including from the Ashbourne Traders’ Group and other Local Groups
Please get in touch if you would like to know more about our services or to book a journey. Call 01335 300670 or email enquiries@ashbournect.org.uk
For Your safety when travelling, we:
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ensure strict social distancing measures on all journeys. All buses have reduced passenger capacity and carry a maximum of 3, 5, 7 or 8 passengers depending on size
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have hand sanitising points on all vehicles and ask all passengers to sanitise their hands at the start of their journey
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provide all drivers with PPE (including face masks and vizors), personal hand sanitising equipment and suitable breaks for regular handwashing
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undertake regular vehicle cleaning and sanitising using a sanitising product called X-Mist, which is a fully tested, approved and certified disinfecting mist that diffuses throughout an enclosed space, destroying viruses (including Corona virus) and bacteria.
While manufacturers guidance indicates that the mist remains active for up to 28 days after use, ACT applies an X-mist deep clean at least every 7 days or more frequently depending on passenger numbers.
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enforce the wearing of face masks for passengers and drivers on all scheduled journeys. However, we are aware that some of our passengers cannot wear face coverings due to health issues and we will take other measures such as greater social distancing to accommodate this.
Please note that Government guidance recognises that face coverings can cause problems if worn for long periods at work and therefore does not require bus drivers to wear masks at any time. So, you may see drivers without masks when no passengers are on Board.
Funding News - October 2020
Osmaston History Group
A donation of £508 has been received from the Osmaston History Group.
Woodroffe Benson Trust
A donation of £400 has been received from the Woodroffe Benson Trust.
Thank you, these donations will help us continue with all the Charity’s work.
ACT Service Update - July 2020
Still operating for the benefit of the whole community
Thank you to the passengers and local councils and our dedicated driver team who volunteered to become key workers: all have supported us, allowing us to keep our essential services running during a few very difficult months. We are pleased to say that our passenger numbers are now increasing again.
We still continue to provide all our essential services, including;
- Collection of prescriptions from local GP surgeries
- Weekly Shopping Buses
- Individual trips to health appointments at GP surgeries and Hospitals
- On demand travel where public transport can’t be accessed
We want all our passengers to know that they can feel safe when they travel with us, here are some details of the current measures we are taking;
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Strict social distancing measures have been implemented on all our services which means reduced passenger capacity on all buses. Most of our buses can now carry up to 8 passengers, we have removed some seats to ensure social distancing for all passengers whilst travelling.
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We are asking our passengers to wear face masks when travelling with us. However, we do understand that this isn’t possible for some passengers due to health issues - please remember this if you see passengers without a mask.
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All of vehicles have hand sanitising points and we ask all passengers to sanitise their hands at the start of their journey.
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All drivers have essential PPE and are asked to wear face masks at all times when carrying passengers.
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Each vehicle is protected by using a sanitising product called X-Mist which is is fully tested, approved and certified to kill Coronavirus. X-Mist is a disinfecting mist that diffuses throughout an enclosed space, killing viruses and destroying bacteria. While it remains active for up to 28 days after use, ACT applies an X-mist deep clean at least every 7 days or more frequently depending on passenger numbers.
Please get in touch if you would like to know more about our services.
To find out more, book a journey, or offer support, call 01335 300670 or email enquiries@ashbournect.org.uk.
Important Service Update - March 2020
In the current emergency Ashbourne Community Transport are supporting Local Councils with the continuing provision of Local Bus services, transport for key and essential workers and their children; and assistance for those self-isolating or who cannot access essential services including healthcare.
Our Derbyshire Connect and Moorlands Connect services will be running normally for key workers and essential travel.
Derbyshire Connect:
0700 - 1900h Monday - Friday
and 0800 - 1900h Sat
Call 01335 300670 or email bookings@derbyshireconnect.org.uk for more information
Moorlands Connect: 0800 - 1700h Mon - Fri
Call 01335 342951 or email bookings@moorlandsconnect.co.uk for more information
For any of the following services please call 01335 300670
- transport to essential hospital or GP appointments
- transport to supermarkets or food shops
- the collection of shopping or prescriptions
We are also working with the Ashbourne Local Traders Group to support the home delivery of food.
Please call us if you need more information or advice about the above. If we are unable to help we will direct to you to an organisation which can or gain advice from the Derbyshire County Council Community Hub
Cancellation of the Swift
From 30th March - 4th April when there will be no bus services between Ashbourne and Derby, ACT has agreed with Derbyshire CC that it can provide transport for key workers who would otherwise use the Swift to travel to work in the NHS at Derby Royal and Community Hospitals. Please email iris@ashbournect.org.uk to register for travel with proposed timing for travel.
ACT is only providing essential travel services as required by Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Councils. In order to protect our staff and our passengers we are adhering stringently to Government rules in relation to general hygiene, bus cleanliness and social distancing.
Funding News - February 2020
ACT Supporting Shrovetide
This year again ACT provided the Shrovetide Committee’s free transport shuttle service into the town centre from the Airfield Industrial Estate. The service ran for 12 hours each day and we estimate that over 1000 passengers used the service with 50-60 per hour carried at the busiest times.
Here at ACT we are very proud to be asked to run this community service to Ashbourne’s most famous and prestigious event; helping to reduce traffic problems in Ashbourne and keep everyone safe.
Oakamoor Parish Council Supports ACT
A big thanks to Oakamoor Parish Council for their donation of £500 to support the Weekly Shopping Service into Ashbourne. These funds will help us maintain fares for passengers from the village now that all support from Staffordshire County Council has been withdrawn. Although the service is primarily used for shopping it can be used for transport to other venues along the route such as the GP surgery. Bookings can be made by calling our office on 01335300670 or email to: enquiries@ashbourect.org.uk
Trips and Excursions
Despite the recent poor weather many passengers have enjoyed our recent ‘break the winter blues’ trips and excursions – the most recent being to Dobbies Garden Centre at Chesterfield and Trentham Gardens this week. A list of our proposed March Trips are now available and bookings are being taken with April and Easter Trips coming soon. In March we have an additional offer to our popular lunch trips with a Lunch and Quiz afternoon at the Duke of York at Pomreroy on Wed 25th. The Duke of York has become a regular venue and ACT is working with the team their on a plan to offer regular quiz and games afternoons.
Funding News - December 2019
Ashbourne Late Night Shopping
This years our stall at the late night shopping event raised c£200
Thank you to the ex servicemans club for hosting the event and to everyone who came along and donated
Charity Raffle
Thank you to all who have donated to our charity raffle so far this year, we have some fantastic prizes on offer. We are still collecting prizes, if you wish to donate a prize or would like to buy raffle tickets contact the office on 01335 300670
Our raffle will be drawn on December 31st.
Update 10/01/2020 - Happy New Year from everyone at ACT. A big thank you to all our sponsors and to everyone who entered our charity raffle, we raised a fantastic £500!
Congratulations to all our winners....
Top prizes went to;
Destiny – Avanti necklace
Chris – optimum voucher £20
Other prize winners were;
J Heathcote, Jim Turnbull, Chris Stokes, Dorris Allen , Ann Knight
Sonia Leigh, Janet Hambleton, Jane Harris, Ann Ings
Amy from flowershop, Lynne Clewes, Peter Lynch, Mark Tyack
Donna Davies, Claire burgess, Mandy Sowter
Funding News - November 2019
Enterprise Foundation Fund
This month we have been awarded £1k from the Enterprise Foundation Fund – our contract hire vehicle suppliers.
Brailsford Methodist Church Coffee Shop ‘charity’ fund
A donation of £500 has been received from the Brailsford Methodist Church Coffee Shop ‘charity’ fund.
Woodroffe Benton Foundation have donated £400 to assist with our work in the Ashbourne area.
These donations will help us continue with all the Charity’s work.
Mr Alan Steele Rigley
We are very grateful for the generous legacy of £5k from the estate of Mr Alan Steele Rigley. Donations of this type enable us to continue to provide accessible and affordable transport for those unable to use regular public transport or people living in rural areas where no public transport services exist.
Regenerating Ashbourne Town Centre
ACT is supporting the new Ashbourne Stakeholders Group which aims to produce a plan to regenerate the Town Centre. We already bring shoppers into the Town Centre on a regular basis and hope to work with the new group to increase these numbers especially by increasing our services to visitors.
Funding News - May 2019
Thank you to Cllr Jean Monks who presented Ashbourne Community Transport with a cheque this week from Chairman of Derbyshire Dales District Council's charity fund for 2018-19. This welcome additional funding will be used to support services in rural areas.
Ashbourne Little Bus Co
We are excited to announce the launch of our brand new website for our Sister Company - The Ashbourne Little Bus Company.
Ashbourne Little Bus Company provides a quality, private hire mini bus service covering a wide area including; Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands, South Derbyshire, Burton and Uttoxeter.
Perfect for groups travelling to any event, our door to door service is available for both public and business use. Our modern fleet of accessible mini-buses are available for;
- Local events
- Parties and Weddings
- Days / Evenings out
- Work events
- Airport runs
- Sporting events
plus many other types of private hire.
Ashbourne Little Bus Company is a sister company of Ashbourne Community Transport. Any surplus from our operations is reinvested into ACT to support the charity and its services.
Visit our new website www.ashbournelittlebusco.co.uk
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Moorlands Connect
We are looking for funding to allow us to increase our Moorlands Connect services to weekends and evenings throughout the week. This great service helps people in more remote area's connect with Ashbourne, Buxton and Leek. We are also promoting the service as a great way for visitors to get out and enjoy the area.
If you think you can help please get in touch.
