Dial-a-ride faces crisis
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 4th November 1999.
A DIAL-A-Ride scheme which provides vital trips for elderly and disabled people is facing a crisis because of a sudden shortage of drivers
Lesley Silk organises the Age Concern service at Haverhill and says they have already had to cancel one wheelchair trip because of the desperate driver shortage. She is urgently appealing to any volunteers with a driving licence to come forward with any help they can offer, especially on a Tuesday.
"Things had been going smoothly when we suddenly lost almost all of them for one reason or another. We now desperately need more drivers to come forward to keep the service going. Some of them don't see anyone at all until our driver and escort arrive," Mrs Silk said.
The Dial-a-Ride service provides transport to Sainsbury's, the post office and the town centre, as well as outings in the summer.
Training is provided for drivers, who can offer either a couple of hours or half a day. Anyone interested should ring (01440) 712028.
The Dial-a-Ride service was under threat last year when Suffolk County Council planned to axe its funding.
It was saved after the council agreed to a reduced funding level and St Edmundsbury Borough Council contributed so it could still operate on two half days a week.
Mrs Silk said the service really needed a pool of at least eight drivers and were currently coping with only three. One of these was too frail to cope with wheelchairs, although he could drive the minibus, and fit escorts were also needed.
"A lot of people worry about the responsibility, but we do provide good training and support, and it is fun. A lot of people do not need a wheelchair, but they cannot climb up on to a bus, so they need our chair lift.
"Since we got the money from St Edmundsbury we have been able to do community transport work like taking residents from Eastcotts to a tea dance," said Mrs Silk.
"We even took a man from Steeple Bumpstead to his wife's funeral with our wheelchair lift. We work around people's appointments and take them to the hairdressers or the chiropodist."
Lesley Silk organises the Age Concern service at Haverhill and says they have already had to cancel one wheelchair trip because of the desperate driver shortage. She is urgently appealing to any volunteers with a driving licence to come forward with any help they can offer, especially on a Tuesday.
"Things had been going smoothly when we suddenly lost almost all of them for one reason or another. We now desperately need more drivers to come forward to keep the service going. Some of them don't see anyone at all until our driver and escort arrive," Mrs Silk said.
The Dial-a-Ride service provides transport to Sainsbury's, the post office and the town centre, as well as outings in the summer.
Training is provided for drivers, who can offer either a couple of hours or half a day. Anyone interested should ring (01440) 712028.
The Dial-a-Ride service was under threat last year when Suffolk County Council planned to axe its funding.
It was saved after the council agreed to a reduced funding level and St Edmundsbury Borough Council contributed so it could still operate on two half days a week.
Mrs Silk said the service really needed a pool of at least eight drivers and were currently coping with only three. One of these was too frail to cope with wheelchairs, although he could drive the minibus, and fit escorts were also needed.
"A lot of people worry about the responsibility, but we do provide good training and support, and it is fun. A lot of people do not need a wheelchair, but they cannot climb up on to a bus, so they need our chair lift.
"Since we got the money from St Edmundsbury we have been able to do community transport work like taking residents from Eastcotts to a tea dance," said Mrs Silk.
"We even took a man from Steeple Bumpstead to his wife's funeral with our wheelchair lift. We work around people's appointments and take them to the hairdressers or the chiropodist."
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