NORDCAT (North Dorset Community Accessible Transport), the Sturminster Newton-based charity that has provided transport services to elderly and isolated residents for over two decades, has announced it will cease operations on 14th February due to financial difficulties.
The charity, which has struggled to secure alternative funding following the loss of key education transport contracts, has confirmed that staff will be made redundant and the office will close. Passengers have been notified of the decision.
Chairman Cllr Pauline Batstone said: “We bitterly regret the abrupt withdrawal of this service, which has been a social lifeline to so many over the years. People have become friends with our staff and other passengers.”
While the closure will leave a gap in community transport provision, some support remains available through the Community Connections charity, which runs a Community Cars Scheme for lunch clubs, meal deliveries, and medical appointments.
Previous Transport Challenges
NORDCAT’s financial struggles follow the revocation of most of its vehicle permits in 2022, after an inquiry by the Traffic Commissioner found serious concerns over vehicle maintenance. The commissioner’s report highlighted a high MOT failure rate and inadequate maintenance systems, appearing to lead to the loss of key contracts, including one with Kingston Maurward College.
At the time, Commissioner Kevin Rooney stated that inspections showed “not one compliant record in the entire bundle” and that vehicle safety checks had been inconsistent. Following the inquiry, NORDCAT was unable to continue operating its education transport service, which had previously subsidised its wider community transport provision.
A NORDCAT spokesperson told The BV: ‘To clarify, the Kingston Maurward College contract was awarded to a logistics company through an open tendering process, well before any complaints were raised with the Traffic Commissioner. That company then had to source buses to fulfil the contract.
‘NORDCAT completely refuted the Traffic Commissioner’s judgement, and all our buses passed an independent inspection following the Commissioner’s report. The permits not renewed at the end of the academic year were those for the larger buses that were no longer needed after the Kingston Maurward contract ended, and those vehicles were disposed of. Our smaller vehicles continued to operate under Community Transport Association permits.
‘The education contract had provided a stable income that helped subsidise our wider community transport service. Once that ended, our reserves steadily depleted until we reached the point where closure became unavoidable.’
With no sustainable funding model in place, and amid the rising costs of operating such services, the charity has been unable to continue. Any remaining assets will, where possible, be used to support the work of Community Connections.
For those in need of alternative transport options, the Community Cars Scheme can be contacted on 01258 473154.
With no sustainable funding model in place, and amid the rising costs of operating such services, the charity has been unable to continue. Any remaining assets will, where possible, be used to support the work of Community Connections.
For those in need of alternative transport options, the Community Cars Scheme can be contacted on 01258 473154.
