Telford pensioners heartbroken as day trips bus is withdrawn
Day trips for a group of elderly Telford women who raised thousands for charity have been withdrawn because of a shortage of members.
Peggy Homer, 86, is one of four women who attend an Age UK day centre in Telford on Friday mornings, but she said a council bus couldn't take them on special trips to places like the Severn Valley Railway any more.
The bus was partly funded with £150,000 raised by Peggy and her fellow Age Concern fundraisers years ago.
Telford & Wrekin Council operates the bus on behalf of Age UK, and has said that trips should cater for at least 10 people to be cost-effective.
Peggy, who lives in Madeley, said: "The members were really looking forward to the trips we had planned. I just feel the council is wiping its feet on us, and I am getting so tired of it. But I can't give up, I've got to fight it."
Russell Griffin of Telford & Wrekin Council said: "The agreement between the council and Age UK is to transport their members to and from community-based groups each day.
“Groups can book trips but there must be at least 10 members on the trip to ensure it is cost effective to run the trip.
“The group in question had a trip in October but have booked three trips in November with only four people travelling to destinations outside the borough.
“Both the council and Age UK are working with this group to try and increase the numbers of volunteers and members attending each week.
“If you are interested in volunteering please visit the council’s website discovertelford.co.uk/get-involved/volunteering
"If you are interested in joining an Age UK community group please telephone 01743 233 123.”
The news regarding the trips follows a change in the bus arrangement for their weekly meetings, which Peggy said has left her "scared to tears".
Adapted
Peggy has osteoarthritis and muscle injuries from a car accident that cost her much of the use of her arms.
Until recently she got to the meetings at Park Lane from her Madeley home with the use of an adapted white bus.
The bus was partly funded with £150,000 raised by Peggy and her fellow Age Concern fundraisers years ago.
The minibus has features including rails that allow Peggy and the other women, one of whom uses a wheelchair, to get on-board and stay secure.
But Peggy said the borough council told the group their number was too small for the use of the white bus to be "viable".
Now they use a red bus without a lift or rails to help get on, and Peggy said she fears getting hurt.
"I'm in the state where I'm scared to tears of getting on that bus," Peggy said.
"The driver from the council tried his best but I didn't feel safe without the rails.
"I can't afford to take a taxi every time to the meetings.
"We all get the feeling that they're just not bothered about us."
The council said the new bus is actually more suitable for people with disabilities.
Mr Griffin said: "We are aware of the concerns that have been raised.
"However the bus that we have provided for this group is a fully adapted local bus and actually is more accessible than the previous bus they had with a lower floor.
"The reason for the change is available resources meant that we needed a bus that could continue on to do another service after dropping the group at the Park Lane Centre.”
The social club is made up of Peggy along with Ann Simcox, 84, Alma Cooper, 80, and Edna Wood, 94.
They raised money for Age UK before and after they retired with a stall at the Princess Royal Hospital, raffles and other events.
Peggy was the recipient of the first ever Shropshire Star Woman of the Year award in 2000 for her fundraising.
