Residents in Melksham who struggle to get out can benefit from the support of Melksham Area Community Transport, a local charity that transports passengers to day centres, shopping outlets and social events.
The organisation, formerly known as the Melksham Council of Community Service (MCCS), was founded by a group of people who had realised there were many older people in Melksham who were often unable to get out due to a lack of easily accessible transport.
A charity was set up and a small minibus was acquired to provide days out and shopping trips. The service has grown over the years and now the charity has five buses and provides transport for over 33,000 passengers a year, transporting disabled and elderly people to day centres, shopping outlets and social events; organising day trips for local residents to popular destinations and carrying children from outlying isolated villages to a local school.
What services do they provide?
Shopper buses
There are trips to Devizes, Trowbridge, or Chippenham on Thursday mornings. The bus can pick you up from home, take you to one of these town centres, where you can spend a couple of hours. The bus then picks you up again and transports you and your shopping home. The bus goes to each of these towns on a rotating schedule each week.
There is a shopper bus to Sainsbury’s Melksham on Friday mornings. Picking you up at your home, the bus will take you to Sainsbury’s for your big shop, then return you home.
The driver will help you get your shopping to your door if you need it; you just need to ask.
These buses are free as long as you are eligible for a bus pass.
Travel Club
Throughout the year, the Tourist Information Office Travel Club organises day trips on a monthly basis. The bus goes to various destinations, including Weymouth, Weston-super-Mare, Abergavenny, Wells and more. There is a charge for these days out.
For more information or to book a place on any of these, call the Tourist Information Office on 01225 707424 or drop into the TIC in Church Street (opposite the post office) for a chat.
Buses for schools, care homes, social clubs or community organisations
The Community Bus can be booked for groups to be taken to educational visits, sporting activities, days out trips for care homes and transport for social clubs, plus more. If you are a member of a group needing transport, get in contact through the Tourist Information office, who will put you in touch with the Community Bus co-ordinator. There is a charge for these bookings.
Holt Community Bus
The Holt bus is a small 16-seater minibus that can be hired for self-drive by local groups such as scouts and sports associations. A small charge is made for the use of this vehicle. Drivers must hold a D1 category on their driving licence.
How can you help?
The charity is run by a small group of voluntary trustees, with day-to-day running the responsibility of the co-ordinator, the transport manager and the dedicated group of drivers employed by the charity.
However, the charity needs more voluntary trustees to help steer the organisation and to ensure it continues to serve the Melksham area community into the future.
A member of the community transport team, John Ruderman, said more drivers are also needed. He said, “If you think you would like to drive one of the buses the organisation offers part-time, paid driving. Training will be given. You need a D1 entitlement on your driving licence and preferably some experience of driving a large vehicle. There is also the opportunity to drive the larger buses if you have a current licence. Any driving undertaken is paid work.”
If you think you have some time to offer and could make a contribution or want to talk about hiring one of the buses, get in touch by ringing 01225 707424 or emailing melksbusjohn@outlook.com
