Volunteer driver scheme for vital appointments saved from closure - The Redditch Standard

Volunteer driver scheme for vital appointments saved from closure

Redditch Editorial 24th Mar, 2018   0

A POPULAR community car scheme which uses volunteer drivers to transport people to important appointments has been saved from closure.

Rural Rides, a long-running service used by people across Bromsgrove and Redditch, provides rides for those unable to make a journey due to personal mobility difficulties or by any other means or don’t have access to suitable transport.

Narrowly avoiding closure, Community Transport Wyre Forest (CTWF) has taken the reins in order to keep the service running.

The volunteer drivers have agreed to transfer to CTWF and users will be asked to call a different number to book a rural ride.




Chief officer Beverley Coldrick offered to help Rural Rides when she heard of the possible loss of the service.

She said: “I know how important this service is to local people, and I knew I was in a position to help it continue.


“I was impressed by the desire of the volunteers to continue their support of the community.

“Given the short notice of closure, there was no time to start a new operation.

“It was an obvious solution to bring Rural Rides under the CTWF umbrella.”

David Muggeridge Chair of Worcestershire Community Transport Consortium, welcomed the move and said: “It would have been a huge loss to the local community impacting those most in need of help with transport.

“I’m confident of a smooth transition to the new provider.”

Previous users of Rural Rides are advised to telephone 01299 405820, any working day between 9am and 2pm to register with the new operator.

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