Residents completely reliant on Rural Transport Scheme

It is more than just a means of transport, a way of getting into town to get to the bank and post office and pick up their bits of shopping.... Joining the bus that takes residents from Clonown and Drum into Athlone each week, it is easy to see it is a way for people living in isolated areas of the country to meet and have a chat, catch up with their friends and neighbours and get a break from their own homes on a Friday. The message to the Government is clear from the 20 or so people availing of the weekly service run by Westmeath Rural Community Transport - leave our bus service in place. Speaking to the passengers on the bus, who range from young children to pensioners, it is clear the service, which faces being axed as part of the Bord Snip cutbacks, is a lifeline that allows them to meet those in their community and also to conduct whatever business they need to in Athlone on a weekly basis. Michael Kenny, who was the first passenger to board the bus when the service began on October 13, 2006, said the passengers are dependent on the bus. He explained that he doesn't drive, but he cycles and if the bus was cut he would have to cycle on bad roads if he wanted to get into Athlone. Not only that, but if the road was flooded during periods of heavy rain he would have to take the long way into town. If he couldn't cycle he would have to get a taxi, which would cost him in the region of €30. Jack Dunning from Clonown said he was also reliant on the bus and said: "I'm a cycling man too. When the road floods you'd have to go around and you'd be cycling twice the journey and I'm not in great health." Mary (Mai) Hynes from Cornabull, Clonown, said the bus service was very important to the residents of Drum and Clonown. She said it was her only means of getting into town each week, unless she asked her daughters, who are all working. "I come in every Friday to do my bits and pieces," she said. Kathleen Moran, who is also from Cornabull, said she has used the bus service every week since it started and said it is very important for them. Teresa Lennon from Oldtown said: "I use it every week, it would a loss for us if it was gone, we'd be getting lifts after that. There's always a good crowd on the bus." For most passengers it is the same story - most of them don't drive and live in isolated parts of the community. The Rural Community Transport bus service allows them to come into town each week, go to the post office, the bank, the library and get their shopping. But more than that it is a way of meeting their neighbours and friends, the camaraderie among them evident for anyone to see if they stepped onto the bus.