Two community transport services merge

MELKSHAM Community Transport has merged with Holt Community Bus, and the new organisation will be managing operations in and around Holt, in addition to the Melksham services presently run by the Melksham Community Bus.

A spokesperson said, “This has become necessary as for some years, Holt Community Bus (HCB) has been incurring losses, a situation made considerably worse by the Covid pandemic, which resulted in the cancellation of two local community bus services and a fall-off in other regular users. With little prospect of generating sufficient income to make the charity viable, the trustees concluded that there was no future as a stand-alone operation.

“Melksham Community Transport (MCT) operates a number of buses and has a sustainable future based on existing contracts. The two charities have worked together in the past, making use of each other’s vehicles when the need arose.

“Both charities have very similar objectives and for some months, the trustees of MCT and HCB have been discussing the merits of merging, given that the two operations are just three miles distant.”

At a joint general meeting of the two charities’ trustees, held on 19th October, the merger was agreed, with the new name of Melksham Area Community Transport (MACT). The merger has been approved by the Charity Commission. Both MCT and HCB already enjoy a close relationship and this merger provides the following: The new organisation will be taking responsibility for and management of the HCB minibus, although it will remain in the Holt Village Hall carpark with continued access available to HCB’s affiliated groups and registered drivers.

They will provide regular door-to-door shopper bus on Friday mornings to Sainsburys in Melksham, for residents of Holt; free to those in possession of a concessionary bus pass, on a low-floor wheelchair accessible bus. Administration will be provided by Melksham Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

Holt people will have the opportunity to join the TIC Travel Club on regular trips to popular destinations; bookings and payment for which will also be via Melksham TIC. Additional shopper bus and excursion destinations can be considered if there is sufficient demand from Holt residents.

Bookings for buses remain as before, please call the Tourist Information Office on 01225 707424 to book a place on either of the shopper buses or for the Travel Club. Next year, a series of excursions will run as usual. Details will be available in the new year. If anyone has any suggestions for where they would like to go, please let the TIC know.

The price next year will be £25 for each trip.

Membership of the Travel Club is free.