The community car scheme is a non-profit car-sharing scheme for people who find public transport difficult or impossible to use because of their disability or age.

Volunteer drivers use their own cars to carry people to the Doctors, Dentists, Chiropodists, Social and Lunch Clubs, Hairdressers and anywhere you want to go during the week between 9.00 am and 4.30 pm. We do not cover Hospital appointments but will take people to visit friends or family who are in hospital.

We require two working days’ notice for bookings and we normally take bookings up to three weeks ahead. Passengers using a wheelchair must be able to transfer from their chair to a car unaided with the driver only needing to fold it and put it in the car boot.

Our charges are calculated on a mileage basis and our current fare structure is listed below: -

Minimum charge - £1.80 for short ‘single’ or return journeys.

Mileage charge for all journeys - 90 pence per mile.

A ‘Call-out’ charge for failure to cancel a journey not required and our car calls at the house and is turned away - £1.80.

A standing charge of £1.20 is also applied to each monthly invoice.

In the event that a passenger soils the vehicle, we reserve the right to make an additional charge, to cover the cleaning cost.

Your journeys are invoiced on a monthly basis and contain all the trips made during the month. We can send invoices to son, daughter, carer etc. if requested.

We expect payment within 30 days.

Please book via the office and give not less than two working days’ notice (i.e. book no later than Mon for Weds, Thurs for Mon etc.). NB: Our drivers are instructed not to take bookings.

Please inform us when registering and remind us at each booking: -

If you will be taking with you: - 
a wheelchair, walking frame, shopping trolley or an escort.

If, for reasons of disability, you need a front car seat.

If there is poor access at your home or destination or if you need the car to call at a rear entrance.

If you have a disabled persons "Blue Badge" please bring it with you, as it may be helpful should there be waiting restrictions at your destination.

Be ready for your journey in good time. We may be very busy at certain times and need to vary your booked time by a quarter of an hour either way. For appointments we aim to get you to your destination by your appointment time. Our first appointment time is usually 9.15am. NB. There may be occasions when we are unable to schedule your trip, in which case we will contact you the day before and notify you.

If you write to us, or when you send a payment do make sure you include your name and address plus the invoice number, if relevant.

Please settle your account within the month in which you receive your invoice. Payments may be made by cheque or postal order or, for callers at our premises, by cash. We do not issue receipts for postal payments.

Advance notice is always required if you wish to change a booked time or destination. Please do not give amendments to the driver.

Please remember our drivers are volunteers and subject to the same traffic regulations that apply to every other driver. We know there are particular difficulties when passengers wish to be dropped off at places where there are waiting restrictions, e.g. pedestrianised areas and bus lanes etc. We do not pay any ‘waiting penalties’ and consequently drivers may not be able to drop you off or pick you up exactly where you want. Please bear this in mind when planning your trip.

While most drivers are willing to carry a reasonable amount of shopping, some are only able to pack a limited number of bags into their car and others may not be able to lift at all.
Therefore, please inform the office of your intentions when you book.

NB: For Health & Safety reasons bags should not exceed 20lb (9 kilo) in weight.

Car seat belts (front) and rear belts (where fitted) should be worn at all times unless you have an exemption certificate issued by your doctor.

Move furniture or large / heavy loads or items.

Move unaccompanied packages (unless returning those left in car by accident).

Provide escorts.

Take responsibility for passengers’ possessions, although we will be helpful and careful.

Offer medical skills.

Provide nursing care in transit.

Stop at bus stops, bus lanes, no waiting areas or taxi ranks.

Take dogs or other pets except guide dogs or pets to veterinary appointments.

Provide the driver of your choice. Our work schedule needs must take precedence.

We do not take people to hospital appointments. There is a Hospital Car Service and they cater for this need.

We regret that because of our charitable status and the way we are funded, we are not able to reduce our charges to people on low incomes.