THE rural bus that ferried Prince Charles around Ribble Valley during his Royal visit in January has been officially launched.
The Bowland Bus Scheme unveiled by Prince Charles at Clitheroe Interchange during his Ribble Valley visit was launched at Chipping Memorial Hall by Nora Ward, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for highways and transportation.
Over £634,000 has been ploughed into the three-year scheme from the Government's Rural Challenge Fund, Lancashire County Council, the East Lancashire Partnership and the Countryside Agency.
The scheme aims to provide residents of and visitors to the Bowland Forest area with a bus service that integrates with rail networks allowing greater access to other areas.
The user-led service runs at regular times with some flexibility to travel off-route and can be booked via the Clitheroe Interchange. The scheme's four buses, named Sky Dancer, Lapwing, Curlew and Merlin, by local schoolchildren, have low floors, easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and can carry bicycles.
Nora Ward said: "Lancashire County Council has been keen to get this project off the ground for some time as Ribble Valley has long needed an effective solution to its transport problems."
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