Tenby Town Council are to write to Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones urging the Welsh Assembly to maintain their funding of the Town Rider scheme.
The Town Rider scheme, a free dial-a-ride service for the elderly and disabled who are eligible for a bus pass, but who find it difficult to use the bus services, is funded by the Assembly as part of their Community Transport Concessionary Fares initiative.
However, members of the town council learned on Tuesday that the funding is due to end on March 31, with no commitment yet announced from the Assembly that they will continue to back the scheme.
The Town Rider has been developed locally by the Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations in association with Pembrokeshire County Council and presently operates in the Pembroke/Pembroke Dock; Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Milford Haven and Tenby areas.
Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane and town clerk, Andrew Davies, informed the council that they had attended a 'feedback forum' on the scheme which demonstrated how successful the project had been.
The Town Rider which can accommodate up to eight passengers and is wheelchair accessible, currently operates in the Tenby area on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm. There is no set route or timetable and passengers can be picked up or dropped off at the time they choose anywhere in and around Tenby, Saundersfoot, New Hedges, Penally, Gumfreston, Wooden, Pentlepoir, Kilgetty and Begelly.
Users need to register for the scheme and all journeys are booked in advance using a Freephone number (0800 7831584). The booking line is open during office hours Monday to Friday and booking must be made by 3 pm the day before the day you want to travel (although they can be booked up to a week in advance).
"A large group of passengers were present at the meeting who commented how important the Town Rider was to them to continue to live a normal life, attend hospital appointments at the Cottage, shop, have their hair done, attend church and visit friends etc. If this service was not available they would not be able to enjoy such a quality of life as using the normal service buses was too difficult," commented Mr. Davies.
"One gentleman present had only just heard about it, but it meant that he was now able to get out and about," the Mayor added. "Prior to learning about the scheme, the man hadn't left his house since November!"
Clr. Mrs. Lane felt that it was vitally important that the Assembly Government continue to fund the scheme and members agreed to write to the Deputy First Minister, who is also responsible for Economy and Transport, urging Cardiff Bay to continue backing the scheme.