South Gloucestershire Council has provided local community transport groups with seven new cars to help improve access for local residents to facilities such as doctors surgeries, dentists and for social activities such as bingo and dancing.
Community transport is a range of transport provided by community-based voluntary organisations, with support from the Council, to cater for local needs which are not met by the commercial sector. The vehicles supplied are Citroen Berlingos, which are suitable for transporting wheelchair users and represent an investment of £56,000.
The new cars have been allocated as follows:
- Four Towns & Vale Link community transport – two new cars
- Kingswood community transport – one new car
- Yate, Sodbury and District community transport -one new car
- Hawkesbury voluntary transport – one new car
The council also has two new cars and its drivers support all the community transport groups as required.
Cllr Brian Allinson, executive member for planning, transportation and strategic environment said: “The Council’s increased investment in community transport has already allowed the purchase of a fleet of new buses, as well as extending the dial-a-ride service to evenings and weekends.
“These new cars are yet more evidence of our commitment to increasing the range of transport options that our residents have access to.”
In the past year community transport has grown to provide almost ¼ million passenger journeys and early this year evening and weekend services were officially launched for the first time. Residents with Diamond Travelcards can use the dial-a-ride services free of charge.
For more information about community transport visit www.southglos.gov.uk/onthemove or call 01454 868004.
Source: South Gloucester Council
