Volunteers needed for bus service

A team of volunteers is needed to help lead a community mini-bus project in Bingham.

The bus could be used to transport older people, the disabled or local sports clubs.

The project is being led by Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Service in response to a survey last year that highlighted transport as a significant problem for many older people.

In total, £40,000 has been earmarked for the project from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan fund.

Mr Dennis Briggs, of Banes Road, Bingham, is on the committee formed to develop the project but more volunteers are needed.

He said: “There has been a feasibility study and it has been agreed Bingham can have a community bus.

“We have got the go-ahead. What we need to do now is to start fine-tuning who is going to run it and how it is going to be operated.

“We have got to have this in place by the end of March next year.”

He said there were similar projects in other areas, including Worksop and Lincolnshire, but each one was run differently.

Mr Briggs said: “It will be for the community, especially the more vulnerable. It could be used for shopping trips for people who are not mobile or even sports clubs to go to matches.”

He said the mini-bus would have to be equipped to cope with wheelchairs.

Mr Briggs said: “Whether we get a new bus if the time allows, or whether we get a second-hand one is very much in the melting pot.”

He said the £40,000 would not cover running costs so they would have to look into whether users would be charged or if they would hold fundraising events.

Mr Briggs said: “There are a lot of people not able to get out and about. The more help we can give to these people who cannot get out, the better.”

He said volunteers would receive guidance from staff at Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Service.

Anyone interested should call the service on 0115 9816988.