Free bus service Westhill (Aberdeenshire) - Aberdeen Community Project Proposal Kasia Matula To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image.

Aim of the project Introduce a free bus service: 6:30-9:30am and 4-7pm Westhill (residential + 2 business parks) Kingswells (Prime four) Lang Stracht Westburn Road (ARI) Union Street

Benefits for the community Reduces CO2 emissions in the atmosphere (cars are left at home) Reduces the heavy traffic in Westhill Saves travelling costs i.e. from home to workplace Provides more time for work, relaxing etc Provides jobs to the community: 6 drivers needed!

Timeline/costs £500-700K Project timeline – 1 year Bus times (3 hrs am + 3 hrs pm) = 6 hrs/day x 5 = 30hrs/week Bus service every 30 mins: 6 rides am x 2 = 12 , 6 rides pm x 2 = 12 1 bus ride / one way – approx. 1 hr 30 mins 3 buses one way ( am and pm) x 2 = 6 buses + 6 drivers needed 6 drivers x 6 hrs per day/x 5 = 30 hrs/week each 6 drivers x 30 hrs per week x 52 x £10/hr  £15,600 year/driver  £93,600 all (tax free) 6 buses rental approx. 1 bus (53 seater): per hour £43 x 30 hrs/week x 52 x 6 = £402,480 / year (insurance, no petrol) £500-700K

Funding opportunities Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) 2019 - £ 150K - 4 application citeria Community, Carbon, Legacy and Improved Climate Literacy Community - Community must be at the heart of decision making process of the project and projects must be designed and delivered by communities themselves. For the purposes of the CCF, Community is defined as a local geography or pre-existing community of interest. Carbon (CO2e) Reduction - The project should lead to a measurable reduction in local carbon emissions through the activities it delivers through behaviour changes in your community. The reduction of CO2e is the ‘unique feature’ of the CCF. It is a key indicator that all CCF projects must report on. Sustainable Legacy - The project should deliver a low carbon legacy in its community, with outcomes (and/or behaviours) that continue after the project is completed. Improved Climate Literacy - The project should deliver an increased understanding of climate change in its community and help the community move to low carbon living.

Funding opportunities 2. fundingscotland.com – various available grants i.e. Esmee Fairbairn Foundation – support environmental work (no deadline) - £149K/ year 3. Industrial sponsors: If we run busses to business parks – high potential of additional support – delivering employees to their workplace 4. Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Council, funds, buses, could also help them to own the buses service in the future i.e. Edinburgh 5. AberdeenSoup ( ~£500)

Power of collaboration Who could we get on board? - Kingswells community? -> Aberdeen City Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City councils collaboration - do they have any money to support this community project? Do they own any buses? What about hydrogen bus company? Could they contribute?

Questions/drawbacks/ potential problems Need for market research: How many people would benefit of this transport – questionnaire in business parks, WECC Define the actual bus route Would industrial companies partially sponsor the buses? Would any hydrogen bus companies rent any free buses? 2. Costs – if we get funding from grants, we need to show that we could afford to “find” additional funding 3. Competition - Would they eat us alive? 4. Bus breakdown costs, insurance covers 5. Is it feasible? Would the community be interested in this project?

Questions and suggestions?  To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image.