Eden Valley Messenger

NEW FELLRUNNER TAKES TO THE ROAD

A NEW Fellrunner bus has taken to the road this week, joining the two existing vehicles  providing community based public transport across the district.

The fully accessible Mercedes Sprinter cost £47,700 with £36,500 coming from Cumbria County Council and the remaining funding being provided by the Fellrunner organisation.

Fellrunner serves around 42 villages from Armathwaite to Milburn along the Eden valley and Fellside and Crosby Ravensworth and the Lyvennet Valley.

Councillor Tim Knowles, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for transport and the Fellrunner Committee will welcome the new addition to the fleet at the Skirsgill depot at 10.45am tomorrow.

Run by a dedicated group of around 25 volunteers, Fellrunner - a registered charity - provides services on twelve different routes, five days a week, offering a lifeline for members of the community without their own transport and has now been running for 30 years.

As well as providing registered bus services, the Fellrunner vehicles are available for local community groups to hire for various outings and the organisation also arranges monthly excursions to help combat rural isolation.

Councillor Knowles said: “The Fellrunner buses provide a fantastic service to people in rural areas across Eden.

“I’m delighted Cumbria County Council has shown how highly we value Fellrunner by funding this new bus.”

Jill Hay, Chairperson of Fellrunner Village Bus Ltd said: “I would like to thank once again Cumbria County Council for their funding for the bus and their ongoing support.

“The Fellrunner is a life line for so many but as always depends on the goodwill and supply of volunteers without whom we would not exist.”