The faltering campaign to secure a late evening bus service through the borough could be revived by funding from the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE).

The chairman of Brentwood's Bus Task Force, Cllr David Kendall, said: "Potentially Brentwood could benefit from this.

We are still trying to get the extended number 73 service going. As part of that we are speaking to the parish councils and looking the possibility of linking in with the villages by extending it to Doddinghurst and Stondon Masses.

The original plan was to secure an evening service between Warley and the Bishops Hall estate via the town centre, but talks are continuing over whether this could be possibly extended to the villages.

Cllr Kendall said: "We will pursue any opportunity which could get this moving. At the moment the county council really doesn't look like it is interested in taking anything forward.

"We had good backing from residents when we first put this forward and hopefully we can get some movement. Bus services are vital to many people within the community especially the elderly."

Fast Track Fund co-ordinated by the Essex Rural Transport Partnership (ERTP) has £10,000 available to help support rural Essex communities tackle the problems of isolation created by a lack of effective transport links.

Up to £1,500 is available to non-profit making organisations throughout rural Essex for transport related projects or improvements.

Any grant over £1,000 needs match funding of 25 per cent which can be a mixture of cash contributions and in kind donations of time or materials.

Published Friday January 30, 2004

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