The community transport sector has been left in crisis by the decision of the Department for Transport (DfT) to enforce an EC Regulation that prohibits the operation of competitively-tendered work using Section 19 permits.
It’s the culmination of a years-long campaign for enforcement that was instigated by a group of commercial operators, and it is undoubtedly the biggest challenge that community transport has ever faced.
CTOs may still tender for work, but they will only be able to do so with an O-Licence and suitably-qualified drivers.
It’s likely that most CTOs will continue their operation using permits, but the DfT’s move removes a significant source of income.
If the sector is to continue to serve its core passengers – and not those that should be carried by commercial operators – then money will need to come from elsewhere.
To get the best results for the users of community transport that it was originally intended to serve, the sector and its representatives must meet this challenge head-on.
What is not required is an over-emotionalisation of the situation. The DfT has adopted a businesslike viewpoint, and community transport and its representatives must follow that lead.
