Narberth is one of two Pembrokeshire communities celebrating the New Year with the arrival of brand new community minibuses.

The project received funding of £114,588 through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

The project has also been supported by Pembrokeshire County Council. Siop y Bobol, the St David’s based charity shop, also made a generous donation towards the new St. Davids’ minibus.

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “I am pleased to be able to support the purchase of two community buses through our Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme. These buses will help provide transport solutions for an area where access to services can be challenging especially for people with additional needs and enhance the rural community.”

The Bloomfield Bus is operated from the Bloomfield Community Centre in Narberth, and provides a dial-a-ride service for Narberth and surrounding villages, as well as transporting children from local schools to the Bloomfield afterschool club, and between Cylch Meithrin Arberth and Narberth CP School. The bus even collects meals for the local day centre.

For more information, contact the Bloomfield Centre on 01834 860293.

Bws y Bobol is operated by Pembrokeshire Voluntary Transport in the St. Davids area, providing dial-a-ride services across the St. Davids peninsular and transport for local community groups. For more information, contact Lynette on 07531 310056.

Both 16-seat minibuses are available for use by local community and non-profit groups in their downtime. The buses are fitted with a tail lift for anyone who finds the steps a struggle, and can carry up to two wheelchair users or mobility scooters.

Both buses will also go into regular use on dial-a-ride services, providing access to shops and local services for people who find it difficult to access other bus services, because they live in rural areas away from the bus route, or have mobility difficulties.

The project was co-ordinated by Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO).

For more information about these buses or other community transport services in Pembrokeshire, please contact [email protected] or call 01437 776550.