Transport scheme is to launch in villages
A new transport project is to be launched in four South Staffordshire villages to take elderly people from their homes to hospital appointments.
Council bosses have now put out an appeal for volunteer drivers for the project and say they hope it will be up and running by the spring.
The scheme will run in Perton, Codsall, Bilbrook and Pattingham and has been set up because officials say it can be hard for older people to use public transport.
South Staffordshire District Council is behind the project along with the parish councils in the four areas.
South Staffordshire Council spokesman Jamie Angus said: "As part of the council's plans to help support older people in getting out and about, we're teaming up with the parish councils in Perton, Codsall, Bilbrook and Pattingham to launch a new voluntary car scheme in those villages.
"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.
"We're hoping to launch the new scheme later in the spring. It's going to be administered by the community of council of Staffordshire on our behalf and we're working with them now to try to recruit volunteer drivers".
There will be a charge for people who want to use the service but organisers are still deciding how much that will be. The scheme is already operating in a number of areas in the district including Brewood, Kinver and Wombourne. Many motor insurers have pledged not to charge extra premiums for volunteers who want to use their cars to help their local communities.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer driver can contact South Staffordshire Council on 01902 696533 or email localities@sstaffs.gov.uk
