Task force bid for better rural links
CAMRA scheme aims to promote public transport to village pubs
Struggling rural outlets could be given a boost through an initiative by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to improve public transport links to out-of-the-way pubs.
CAMRA's Public Transport Task Group has been working to improve access to rural pubs, and some urban pubs, by liaising with local authorities to come up with schemes to promote transport links. The idea is also likely to help curb drink-driving.
Mike Perkins, chairman of the task group, said: "We decided to set it up because rural pubs are having problems. We regard it as a form of social exclusion - people who want to go and have a pint should be able to do so on public transport.
"And it's not just rural areas. In Scarborough there are now no buses in town after 7pm."
The Government recently announced a £180bn package to improve public transport over the next 10 years so the group is hopeful things will start to improve.
In the meantime the group is working on various ideas to improve awareness of bus, train and coach access to pubs and also raise CAMRA's profile.
"We're starting to introduce local initiatives," said Mr Perkins. "For example we're doing an Ale Trail leaflet with Lancashire County Council. We do the research and find pubs on a transport route. The council covers the printing costs and we share distribution."
Ale Trail leaflets have been produced in several parts of the country including areas in the Midlands, Essex and Cornwall, and a similar scheme, Bus Hops, was launched by brewer Timothy Taylor last year.
On Merseyside, CAMRA runs a pub crawl using public transport and in Southport the group has been working with the tourist office to produce a leaflet for coach trips detailing pubs in the area.
Mr Perkins said: "Improving public transport is going to be a slow process but we're working on it. The Department of Transport said it supports us. It's just a matter of building it up and establishing contacts."
Pictured l-r: Timothy Taylor's managing director Charles Dent and Keighley & District Travel managing director Stuart Wilde launch 'Bus Hops'
