The Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company's annual report for 2017/18 is available to download here (PDF file).

The report highlights that whilst D&BCIC and its partners have continued to be remarkably successful once again in attracting sufficient funding for the summer 2018 network, it is clear that fundraising activity is becoming an unsustainable drain on the company’s limited voluntary resources and that the securing of more stable longer-term funding is an urgent priority. DalesBus delivers many economic, social and environmental benefits, but D&BCIC cannot achieve these alone. For DalesBus to survive and develop increased political and financial support is needed.
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The report also notes the retirement of founder director Colin Speakman as a director earlier this year. The Board would like to thank Colin for all his hard work in developing the company and helping to support the DalesBus network. Colin will however be continuing in his role as Vice Chair of the Friends of DalesBus.

John Grogan MP was welcomed by directors of Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company and members of Friends of DalesBus and the Friends of the Dales to join them on a short walk and pub lunch in Kettlewell on Sunday 14th January using DalesBus service 874 which runs from Wakefield, Leeds and Ilkley to Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Kettlewell and Buckden.

In conjunction with the Friends of DalesBus, the Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company is able to supply timetable leaflets for its services to local businesses and organisations who are able to display them. For details please contact us.

An Early Day Motion was raised by John Grogan, MP for Keighley, on 5th December 2017 commending the work of the company:

That this House congratulates The Dales and Bowland Community Interest Group, a subsidiary of the Yorkshire Dales Society, on its 10th anniversary; acknowledges the work that this not-for-profit company has undertaken with its DalesBus service to deliver affordable public passenger transport to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Forest of Bowland every Sunday and Bank Holiday throughout the year; notes that the continuation of the DalesBus service is essential so that less traffic enters the National Parks; further notes the mental and physical health benefits to West and North Yorkshire residents which the DalesBus offers by improving mobility and combatting isolation and loneliness, as well as the economic benefits it brings to pubs, cafes, shops and other businesses in the Yorkshire Dales National Park; notes that in 2017 the Group wants to reinstate the Summer Sunday Nidderdale Service which will give people from West Yorkshire direct access to Washburndale and Nidderdale and serve no less than seven reservoirs; welcomes the continuing financial support that West Yorkshire gives to DalesBus; and calls on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Yorkshire Water to consider doing likewise.
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www.parliament.uk/edm/2017-19/650

​A recent campaign by Nidderdale Chamber of Trade, Nidderdale Plus (a local charity devoted to the support of communities in Nidderdale) and Dales & Bowland CIC means Nidderdale’s number 24 bus service will not be axed now for commercial reasons and will run every day in the winter months after all.

​​Most of the Sunday and Bank Holiday bus network in the Yorkshire Dales is now managed by the Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company, together with some Saturday buses. This volunteer-run company, owned by the Yorkshire Dales Society, is most grateful to those organisations who have already confirmed their continued support for DalesBus, including the Yorkshire Dales Society, the National Trust, the Friends of DalesBus and Arriva Rail North, but is urgently seeking additional funding for the future. Anyone who may be able to assist or is interested in finding out more is asked to get in touch by email as soon as possible.

The Friends of DalesBus also support DalesBus and would welcome any donations online via PayPal to their Bus Operating Fund (for any larger donations of £250 or over where Gift Aid may be available please contact us before donating).

Research has highlighted the importance of bus services to the local economy and residents of the Dales. ​

A survey of summer visitors by bus and car to the Dales carried out on behalf of the Dales Integrated Transport Alliance (DITA) shows that:

• Buses are important both for residents and visitors. Of the bus users who responded to the survey 37% were Dales residents, 43% were day trippers and 16% visitors staying overnight. Around a third of bus users could have travelled by car, which would have caused a substantial increase in carbon emissions.
  
• Buses make a significant contribution to the local economy. More than half of bus users would not visit the Dales without the bus service, and Dales businesses would lose their spending of at least £2.8 million per year if the buses were to cease.
  
• About 1 car user in 7 said they could use buses for their journey; a greater choice of tickets available on all buses and trains in the area was the most important suggestion to encourage greater use of public transport.
  

From 1st March 2012, our office facility provided by the Yorkshire Dales Society has relocated to Gargrave. You can now write to us at:

The Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company,
Canal Wharf,
Eshton Road,
Gargrave,
North Yorkshire
BD23 3PN 

or call us on: (01756) 749400.

​Please note that our office is only open limited hours, but an answerphone facility is available when the office is closed, and you can also email us.