South Staffordshire villages to launch new transport scheme

Date: 13/2/2013

Four villages in South Staffordshire are set to launch a new initiative designed to help transport elderly residents to and from their hospital appointments, the Express & Star reports.

Officials from local authorities in Perton, Codsall, Bilbrook and Pattingham are calling for volunteer drivers to sign up to the scheme in a bid to help older people who have difficulty using public transport.

The project was devised by South Staffordshire District Council with the help of parish councils from the four areas, and the hope is that the initiative will launch towards the end of spring.

"The main purpose will be to help those who can’t access existing public transport and who need to get to hospital appointments outside of the district, whether that be at Stafford, New Cross in Wolverhampton or elsewhere," said Jamie Angus, a Spokesman for the Council.

With certain aspects of the initiative still being decided, motor insurers have pledged not to charge extra premiums for volunteers who are using their cars to serve the local community.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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