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<p>Last December Defra and the Department for Transport (DfT) held a joint roundtable
on rural bus services with a wide range of key stakeholders, exploring the issues
and potential solutions for providing effective bus services in rural communities.</p><p>
</p><p>The new Community Rail Development Strategy, published in November 2018, looks
for ways to make it easier for the rail industry and local community rail partnerships
to improve services and stations on local branch lines. Defra worked with DfT on the
draft strategy and the consultation process on the strategy prior to its launch.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government published its Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy in March and
will be setting out thinking on the future of rural mobility in due course, to explore
how the benefits of transport innovation can be enjoyed by everyone, wherever they
live.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s ambitions for the Oxford Cambridge Arc recognise
that it is an area of significant strength and opportunity. We recognise that a high-quality
environment is key to achieving the ambition of a more productive and connected Arc
and aim to meet our economic and housing ambitions while delivering on the Government’s
25 Year Environment Plan. Defra is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities
and Local Government and DfT to create sustainable places for people and wildlife,
to preserve the environment for future generations. Within the Arc, we are encouraging
the constituent local authorities to be looking to develop local potential transport
systems that provide convenient, clean, effective, accessible, inclusive, safe and
active travel, with less congestion and better air quality.</p><p> </p><p>Oxford City
Council has received £2,334,480, through the Clean Bus Technology Fund, run by Defra
and DfT’s Joint Air Quality Unit. This will retrofit 115 buses across Oxford and Oxfordshire
to Euro VI standard.</p>
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