Three new minibuses are now serving residents across Clacton, Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick Sands after Tendring District Council awarded a £180,000 grant to local community groups. The vehicles have gone to Tendring Community Transport, Harwich Connexions and the Clacton-based youth charity UTurn4Support, the council announced on 23 June 2026.
The combined cost of the three minibuses exceeded £180,000, drawn from the Community Regeneration Partnership, itself part of a £20million investment programme from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Councillor Ivan Henderson, TDC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, said seeing the buses in service was a milestone. “It shows the real-life impact of Government funding starting to take effect and making a difference to people,” he said.
Tendring Community Transport’s new fully accessible vehicle replaces one of its oldest minibuses. Pauline Mann, the charity’s CEO, said it would be much more reliable for passengers who depend on the service. The organisation delivered 68,250 passenger journeys in 2025 and operates a fleet of mostly wheelchair-accessible vehicles. At Harwich Connexions, the minibus runs on the Tendring Shuttle route, helping isolated residents with shopping trips and medical appointments. “Our passengers love the new minibus – it is already very popular with those who use it,” said manager Debbie Hill.
UTurn4Support’s minibus has been in use since November 2025, helping young people attend sessions at Old Road in Clacton and reach school or college. Youth worker Max Hughes said the vehicle had expanded what the group can do, including reward scheme trips further afield. The funding programme follows a broader pattern of regeneration investment in Tendring, which has also included improvements at Clacton Leisure Centre, work in Jaywick Sands and shopfront upgrades for local businesses.
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