East Suffolk Council
Home >
News Archive >
All aboard the Bungay Shoppa
All aboard the Bungay Shoppa
A community transport pilot is launching in Bungay thanks to funding from East Suffolk Council.
The 'Bungay SHoppa' is a pilot community transport scheme being delivered by Bungay Events and Business Association (BEBA) and Bact Community Transport. The service will connect those isolated and without transport in Bungay’s neighbouring villages to Bungay on market days. The Bungay SHoppa will serve stops in Wainford, Shipmeadow, Barsham, Ilketshall St. Andrew, Ilketshall St. John, Ilketshall St. Lawrence, Ilketshall St. Margaret, South Elmham St. Peter, South Elmham St. Michael, All Saints, Rumburgh, Homersfield and Flixton.
The service starts on Thursday 28 October and will take place on Thursdays (market days) until February. The service will also run on the Sunday Street Market days that fall during this time.
The project has received funding from the Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages Community Partnership as well as funding from East Suffolk district Councillor Judy Cloke’s Enabling Communities Budget.
Speaking about the project, Didy Ward, Chair of BEBA said: "Connecting the Ilketshalls and the Saints to Bungay on Market Day has long been on BEBA’s wish list and formed part of the Town Centre Action Plan for Bungay under the East Suffolk Town Centre Initiative. We are delighted to be working with Bact Community Transport on the pilot and hope that the Bungay SHoppa will see many people using it to come into town to shop, meet up with friends, have their hair done or even just get out of the house for a couple of hours for a cup of tea and a bit of cake in Bungay’s cafes."
Debbie Blowers, General Manager of Bact Community Transport said: "We are delighted to be part of this joint project running the Bungay SHoppa bus service for passengers from some of the most isolated Suffolk villages into Bungay. It is a great opportunity for people to spend a few hours in town without worrying about parking or getting there if they do not have access to a car. Mick our cheerful and helpful driver looks forward to meeting his passengers."
Cllr Judy Cloke, East Suffolk ward councillor for Bungay and Wainford and Chair of the Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages Community Partnership, said: "I am delighted we have been able to bring this project to fruition, with funding from both my Enabling Communities Budget and from the Community Partnership's small grant funding. Visiting rural parishes in my ward I have become very aware of the lack of amenities and public transport. Debbie and her team have worked so hard with BEBA to get this project off the ground. I hope it will encourage more people to get out and about – and of course, Bungay will welcome them."