The Drayton and Farlington Ward has the highest percentage of older people residing in its area. Those older people who live on the Drayton and Farlington hill slopes are at a great disadvantage if they have no access to cars or other means of transport. This is because of the lack of bus services in that area and the expense and lack of availability of alternative transport. It is one thing to walk down the hill slopes but quite another if laden with shopping.
The Drayton and Farlington Action Group has been working on a project for several months to over come this problem It will involve hiring school minibuses when not in use by the school during the day and recruiting a team of volunteer drivers who would be given the appropriate training to drive them. . It is the aim to provide a door to door service on one day a week to convey people to shops and return them home after they have completed their shopping. This would enable users of the service to access shops and community activities.
This has become even more necessary due to the loss of the sub post office at the Southern Co-operative Store in Drayton. The Portsmouth Dial a Ride service is only available to registered disabled people, There are a number of elderly people who may not be disabled but have real mobility problems. Users will be asked to make a reasonable contribution towards the cost.
The stumbling block has been the inability to raise the funds to finance the service. Grant applications have been made to various charitable sources and the result of the latest application is now awaited. The proposal has been discussed with the Traffic Commissioners and Community Transport England who are satisfied with the arrangements for running the service. It will receive a permit once the funding has been obtained. Our plans have been discussed with the various statutory and voluntary agencies as well as members of the various clubs who also fully support our efforts. If our present application to Awards for All is successful the aim will be to have a pilot project up and running by the late Autumn.
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