Three Gwynedd community transport providers have secured funding for specially adapted brand-new vehicles that will make it easier for disabled and older people to get from A to B.
The three vehicles which are now up and running for Porthmadog-based CIL De Gwynedd – Centre for Independent Living, Barbara Bus Gwynedd in Criccieth and CYMROD – Dwyfor Travel Club, have been purchased with support from Gwynedd Council, the Welsh Government and the north Wales transport consortium Taith.
Gwynedd Council’s Senior Portfolio Leader for the Environment, Councillor Gareth Roberts who leads on transport said:
“In rural areas like Gwynedd, these voluntary community transport groups play a particularly important role for residents who cannot access other public transport routes.
“The excellent service they provide means that older and disabled residents who may not be able to access conventional public transport are able to maintain their independence – this is an important part of the Council’s goal of providing a sustainable and integrated county-wide transport system which is accessible to all.”
Councillor Trevor Roberts, who represents Gwynedd Council on Taith added:
“Community transport groups offer a door-to-door service, using accessible vehicles and trained drivers to ensure that disabled or older residents who live too far from the bus network, or who are unable to use conventional public buses or trains can access public transport.
“We thank groups like CIL De Gwynedd, Cymrod and Barbara Bus Gwynedd for providing excellent community transport. With the funding delivered by Gwynedd Council and Taith the groups have been able to adapt vehicles so that they can carry wheelchair passengers and make getting from A to B as convenient as possible.”
CIL De Gwynedd – the Centre for Independent Living at Porthmadog who provide services for the Dwyfor and Meirionydd area has used its funding to buy a new Renault Master. The vehicle has been specially adapted to accommodate up to four wheelchairs and three seated passengers in comfort and safety and will be used to transport disabled adults to and from the centre and also to participate in accessible sports such as Boccia.
Barbara Bus Gwynedd who provide community transport throughout Gwynedd and beyond has bought a new VW Caddy life vehicle. It has been specially adapted to accommodate a wheelchair user and three seated passengers in comfort and safety. One use of the vehicle will be to transport Rob Jones from Dyffryn Ardudwy to Weymouth where he will take part in a tall ships voyage organised by the Jubilee Sailing Trust. Because Rob is a wheelchair user, such a journey would be difficult to accomplish using conventional public transport.
CYMROD – Clwb Teithio Dwyfor Travel Club secured funding to buy a new Fiat Doblo vehicle which has been adapted to accommodate a wheelchair and three passengers in comfort and safety. The vehicle will ease door to door transport in the Dwyfor area of the county.
There are a number of groups in Gwynedd who offer community transport, including:
- O Ddrws i Ddrws – 01758 721 777
- CYMROD – 01758 614 311
- The Red Cross – 01248 351 103
- Barbara Bus Gwynedd – 01766 522 756
- CIL De Gwynedd – 01766 514 249
