East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are pushing for a £15,000 funding pot to be set aside annually to bolster community transport schemes.

Group leader, Councillor Gareth Wilson said a recent grant of £15,000 made to Ely and Soham Dial-a-Ride was not enough and said a pot should be made available every year for all community transport schemes to help cover their running costs.

He said: “Many people across Ely and Soham rely on community transport to access health, shopping, leisure and other facilities.

“It really is a lifeline for large numbers of elderly and disabled residents, and an annual contribution from the district council is vitally important to ensure the future of community transport in our area.”

Cllr Wilson’s proposal even attracted the support of his Conservative counterparts, which he admitted was “quite a surprise”.

The Lib Dem leader said that the proposal would come in to play in 2016/17 and added that it could be increased if his part is voted in to power at the upcoming district council elections.

The proposal, agreed by the council’s corporate governance and finance committee last Thursday, will be included in the budget proposals to be considered by the full council on February 26.