Community Transport Service Nears 30-Year Milestone, Called a ‘Lifeline’

A transportation service that assists residents in rural areas of Leicestershire with day excursions and shopping trips is approaching three decades of operation. For many individuals residing in the Blaby district, accessing retail establishments can be challenging without a personal vehicle. However, the COMMBUS project, which involves passengers paying fares subsidized by Leicestershire County Council, offers door-to-door transport five days a week using its three buses. By January, COMMBUS will have been operational for three decades. This volunteer-run service consistently provides opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment through outings to places such as Market Harborough and Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. Paula Wollaston, an 80-year-old from Countesthorpe in Leicestershire, has been utilizing the service since her late husband suffered a stroke and was no longer able to drive. She commented: “I enjoy the shopping and meeting everyone, it’s excellent. It’s good to get up to Fosse Park. It’s a big help with the shopping.” She added: “It’s really important, I love the service and I try to use it every week.” Marks & Spencer at Fosse Park is one of the designated drop-off points. Andy Frith, the store manager there, stated: “I think COMMBUS is fantastic, it makes our store more accessible for people.” He further explained: “It means we can create weekly relationships with those customers, and our staff really get to know them.” Kim Richardson, the charity’s chairperson and a volunteer for seven years, remarked: “I think it gives the people we transport a great deal more independence, it means they can get out. It’s a real lifeline for those people.” Richardson emphasized: “We do pick up people who wouldn’t otherwise get out of the house if it wasn’t for COMMBUS.” The charity, however, is actively seeking additional volunteers to ensure it can continue providing its services to the community. Mr Richardson, 71, said: “You can never have enough volunteers. Right now, we are particularly short of drivers, so we would love it if more people stepped forward as a driver for us.” He concluded: “We do train them to a national standard and then we take them from there.”