Our News

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June 2023

As part of its travel season, ‘Are we there yet? Imagining travel in Lewes 2030’, Lewes Climate Hub invited Mark Evans of CTLA to talk about the future of buses in the town and beyond, looking at issues such the health of public transport post-Covid, the role of community transport to support wellbeing and social inclusion, and the best incentives to get more people using the bus.

Juliet Oxborrow, director at Lewes Climate Hub, said: “it was great having Mark to give his perspective on the future of buses for rural towns like Lewes. We loved his insight into what we need to do as communities not only to protect the bus services we already have but to boost their growth as a critical solution to climate change.”

About Lewes Climate Hub  (click logo above)

Lewes Climate Hub is open Wed-Sat, 11am-3pm at Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2LU. Details at www.lewesclimate hub.org or email [email protected], Or visit Facebook – @lewesclimatehub.

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Social isolation is a universal issue: in every country and every community there are people who, through no fault of their own, are lonely and isolated.  It’s a huge issue and one which is deserving of time and attention.

To read more, click here…

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February 2023

CTLA Travel Club started February with a travel group outing to the Singing Hills Golf Club for a wonderful lunch and social afternoon amidst blue sky and beautiful Sussex landscape. Singing Hills is a very popular outing for the CTLA Travel Group.

You can register as a member for CTLA Travel Club by calling our office on 01273 571332.

July 2023

CTLA was privileged to meet Barbara Crang at the recent Peacehaven Summer Fair who kindly stopped by to offer her big thank you to drivers Laurence and Alan who have been her drivers for the past 14 years of using the CTLA community bus service. Barbara also made a very kind donation of £5 to CTLA to help keep the service on the road… Bless you Barbara 🙂

March 2023

Tesco pledge their commitment to the community with a £5,000 grant to help keep local community transport running.

Tesco as a trusted major local retailer recognises the importance of shoppers being able to reach town supermarkets and local stores to shop for the food, groceries, and household goods they and their family needs.

Many of Tesco customers travel by car, but many do not own cars and therefore depend very much on having access to public transport, community transport, or taxis.

Chris Lane, Tesco Extra superstore manager, (Lewes) said…

“We are thrilled to be able to provide a £5,000 donation to CTLA.”

“Tesco takes its role, service, and commitment in the community very seriously. We understand the need for customers to reach shops and we greatly appreciate the role CTLA community transport as a charity plays, enabling people to travel and reach shops for their foods, groceries and household items.”

“Tesco was particularly impressed how some CTLA transport services ‘go that extra mile’ for the community by collecting people from their home and returning them back to their home.” Chris Lane added.

CTLA is an independent charity and provider of community transport services across East Sussex for the past 20 years. More than 50% of CTLA passengers are elderly, students, disabled, or disadvantaged without personal transport. Community transport is especially important for those living in outlying areas where mainstream bus services either cannot reach or have been cut due to viability and cost saving issues. CTLA provides community bus services from East Saltdean to the Lewes and Uckfield area, from Eastbourne and Polegate to Seaford, Peacehaven, Newhaven and outlying communities and rural areas.

Mark Evans, General Manager at CTLA said…

“In the wake of rising expenses, fuel and inflation, the cost of operating and maintaining a fleet of buses to provide the community transport services East Sussex needs, has been immensely challenging …and at times, close to impossible. In this respect we speak for every community transport provider across the country. We are therefore grateful to Tesco for their generosity and kindness to step forward with a grant to help CTLA community transport meet those financial needs and keep the community transport wheels turning. Thank you, Tesco.”

CTLA works very closely with local councils to help fund and operate community transport services across East Sussex. The Tesco grant is a valuable contribution towards the escalating cost of bus fleet and maintenance costs.

January 2023

It is so important that your paid staff and volunteers are appropriately trained to ensure the comfort and safety of your members, passengers and clients. The CTLA MiDAS (Minibus and Diver Awareness Training) scheme is a nationally recognised assessment and training scheme for minibus drivers and passenger assistants with East Sussex schools and colleges, care centres, and county community transport operators… For more information, click here

December 2022

The annual CTLA Santa Bus was a big success visiting Newhaven, Peacehaven and Denton over the Christmas period. The Santa Bus was also invited to a local school. Children and families could have their photo taken with Santa.

January 2023

Our latest article highlighting the importance of community transport to local people that people perhaps most don’t realise.

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