Taxi aid for vulnerable launched in Dales

The scheme, which will be run by Age UK, will give out taxi vouchers to those unable to use public transport because of their age or disability and replaces a scheme that was recently lost because of cutbacks.

The project, which will help vulnerable residents across Richmondshire get to and from places using taxis or community transport vehicles, has won approval from district councillors.

Members of Richmondshire District Council’s strategy board have allocated an £11,000 grant to the 12-month pilot scheme proposed by Age UK, who will administer and operate it. If successful, it could be rolled out to other parts of the country.

Council Leader, Coun John Blackie said yesterday: “In our mission to engage with all sections of the community we were determined to help our vulnerable residents who experience great difficulty in getting around,”

“The charity has a great track record of running schemes to help vulnerable residents – but this will be the first time they have looked at running a transport scheme. It is very exciting that Richmondshire is a pilot for a plan that could be adopted across the county.

“Councillors wanted to address the travel difficulties in the Dales where public transport is at a premium, so community transport services like the Reeth Ring-to-Ride and The Little White Bus in Hawes are included in the scheme,” Coun Blackie added.

The project will allow vulnerable residents with acute mobility problems who are in receipt of council tax or pension credit benefit – to apply for a £60 allocation of travel vouchers which can be used to meet the cost of taxis, private hire, or community transport services.

A previous taxi vouchers scheme, which was run by another organisation, had to be stopped because of budget cutbacks.