AN ambitious scheme to improve access to work for young people in remote areas by providing them with mopeds or scooters is about to move a step closer.

Councillors are being urged to give their backing to the ground-breaking Wheels 2 Work initiative, an £18,000 pilot project in Richmondshire and Hambleton.

The idea is to provide 16 to 25-year-olds in rural areas with the means to get to work or to find work by loaning them the two-wheel machines.

The scheme is being promoted by the districts' Rural Transport Partnership and is based on a similar project that has now been running for five years in Shropshire.

It will run initially for one year and will begin as soon as all the funding is in place. Twelve machines are to be bought at a budget price of £1,500 each. They will be 50cc capacity models, which are restricted to 30mph.

Such machines, with L-plates, can be ridden by 16-year-olds who have a provisional licence but all participants will have to undertake a basic motorcycle proficiency course.

Potential users of the machines will be referred to the scheme by agencies such as the Employment Service and the youngsters will also be able to use the bikes for "reasonable social purposes."

Richmondshire District Council has already agreed to give £1,500 to the scheme and Hambleton are expected to do the same when its economic development committee meets today.

Funding is also being sought from other sources, including the county council, North Yorkshire Training and Enterprise Council. Hambleton's planning and environmental services director, Steve Quartermain, said: "Wheels 2 Work is a worthwhile scheme if it will help young people get to employment and training opportunities where there is no suitable public transport.

"The scheme could also help deliver other policy objectives such as reducing social exclusion and providing transport initiatives that meet the needs of all sections of the community.