Joy as vital Shropshire hospital transport service gets funding

North Salop Wheelers, which transports people across North Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, has secured a further 12 months of funding.

The Wheelers operate a community bus across Whitchurch, Wem and Market Drayton, as well as taking people to the Princess Royal Hospital for appointments.

Fears had been raised that the future of the scheme could be under threat, but organisers said Telford & Wrekin Council had agreed to continue funding it for the next year.

John Harrison, for the North Salop Wheelers, said he was delighted, especially with the prospect of changes to the future of hospitals across the region under Future Fit.

Currently there are plans for the county’s emergency centre to be based at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, while Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital would take on responsibility for planned care.

Depending on their location, these plans mean Shropshire's residents will have to travel further to receive the care they need.

He said: "Dominic Proud from Telford & Wrekin Council e-mailed me to say they are going to carry on the funding for another 12 months.

"Obviously, because of the situation nationally, they can't say how long it's going to go on for.

"But it's bringing good news because we can carry on helping all the villages along the Shropshire border, all the way through from Whitchurch and Market Drayton taking them to the Princess Royal and if necessary, onto the Royal Shrewsbury."

Premiums

The project,which was set up in 2003, also receives funding from Shropshire Council, but has struggled in recent months after its insurance premiums more than doubled earlier this year.

Mr Harrison added: "It's always touch and go, this year we've had our insurance premiums doubled, which makes life terribly difficult, it went from £900 a vehicle to £2,000 a vehicle.

"This is a very long and involved tale, but it's the way the insurance industry works in this country.

"Community transport schemes, such as ourselves, aren't terribly popular with insurance companies generally."

The project, which is based in Whixhall, aims to offer help to anyone who needs it.

"We need a little bit of notice, we can't do it at a drop of a hat, although in an emergency we would try," Mr Harrison added.

"We are also in need of some more volunteers, the more we have the better service we can provide."

For more information visit northsalopwheelers.co.uk