‘Hammer blow’ for Dial-a-Ride (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

‘Hammer blow’ for Dial-a-Ride

8:00am Friday 12th March 2010

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AN under-threat “lifeline” service that provides transport for the elderly and disabled is facing a “hammer blow” after one of its minibuses was written off following an accident.

Dial-a-Ride was founded in 1986 and offers a door-to-door service for its members but has been in danger of folding, due to its funding being slashed in half.

Co-ordinator, Rob Hartell, now says he expects only a “minimal amount” from insurers following a minibus crash on February 25, a collision resulting in no injuries to the driver or passengers.

He said the charity was left with an ageing fleet of five vehicles and would have to rely on a 1990-registered Volkswagen Transporter, without a wheelchair tail lift, as cover in case of any breakdowns.

He added that the service was desperately in need of funds to modernise its fleet, with a suitable vehicle costing about £40,000.

Mr Hartell said: “This is a hammer blow for us.

“We were not expecting it at all. We were trying to make ourselves financially viable and doing reasonably well and now this has happened.”

He added: “We might have to cut back on the number of journeys because we don’t have the number of vehicles we need.”

Mr Hartell explained that Wyre Forest District Council was cutting the money it paid as reimbursement for members using bus passes under the concessionary travel scheme by half, from next month.

Although 82 per cent of Dial-a-Ride’s 350 members use the bus passes, the service will get £8,500 a year instead of £17,000.

Mr Hartell said that while total fares would remain the same, bus pass holders would have to pay extra to cover the loss of reimbursement from the council.

That means that to cover costs, passengers on standard journeys will soon have to pay up to an extra £1 a journey, while those in some rural areas will have to stump up more than double what they pay currently.

Mr Hartell added that the service had already been forced to make two part-time drivers redundant, while his own working week had been reduced from five to three days.

To join Dial-a-Ride as a volunteer or to help organise fund-raising events or make a donation, call Mr Hartell on 01562 755084.

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