The government has today reiterated its determination to improve the rural transport system.

Addressing a conference held by the Council for the Protection of Rural England, transport minister Sally Keeble said the government is investing £239 million over the next three years in rural services, an increase of 54 per cent on the previous three years.

She said it was important for people to get to and from their local market town and argued better bus services, introduced as a result of the increased government funding, were making a real difference to the lives of those living in the country.

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance told ePolitix.com: "We welcome any move which will improve rural Britain's access to public transport. In 1997, 75 per cent of all rural parishes had no daily public bus service, meaning that for rural people, a car has become an essential part of life - with some households spending per cent of their gross income on fuel."

"Yet despite this, the pricing policy of oil companies means that small independent garages in rural areas have to pay more for their fuel. 165 rural garages have gone bust in the last year alone. The lack of public transport therefore leads directly to a dependence upon cars, social exclusion, poverty and an inability to travel to work."

"We also welcome the minister's commitment to road safety. With rising traffic levels and deterioration in road conditions, rural roads have become comparatively more dangerous than urban roads over the last 10 years. According to the government's own statistics, 30 per cent of road fatalities happened on rural roads 10 years ago in comparison with 37 per cent today."

"We therefore urge the government to sharply increase funding for rural public transport. The rural transport fund should be at least 20 per cent of overall transport funding. The government should also create 'local' rural taxi companies run by private car owners and fully implement all of the transport proposals in the rural white paper. In short, rural transport services should be based on the needs of those living in the countryside and not just those visiting the countryside."