MORE than £167,000 of grants to boost community transport services across England’s largest county have been recommended for approval.

Leaders of North Yorkshire County Council will hear the funding is set to be split between five registered charities, including Dial-a-Ride Scarborough and District, Ryedale Community Transport, Stokesley and District Community Care Association, Thirsk District Community Minibus Association and Whitby and District Community Transport.

The Scarborough service, which provides transport for older people, people with a disability or because of limited access to public transport, has asked for £29,000 to buy a fully accessible minibus to replace its minibus which is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. It enables access to healthcare and support groups.

Ryedale Community Transport has asked for £58,000 towards a specialist fully accessible minibus to replace an existing specialist minibus which is now nine years old and becoming increasingly expensive to maintain.

The Stokesley association operates two minibuses and is applying for funding to address a shortfall of £10,000 for a replacement minibus, having been awarded a £34,200 last March as a 75 per cent contribution but, the cost was subsequently found to be considerably more.

The Thirsk service has asked for £30,000 to replace its minibus, while the Whitby group is seeking £39,000 to extend the current dial-a-ride service into the Esk Valley.