'Disaster' fears for car schemes
Elderly residents in West Norfolk have been rocked by new Goverment legislation which could signal the end of vital transport links in the borough.
From January, drivers operating community car schemes, as well as those providing home to school transport, paid hospital car services and employment agency cars, will require a private hire vehicle licence.
And from the same date vehicles which carry more than eight people over a distance of 31.5 miles a day will have to be fitted with a tachograph machine, which costs up to 1,500 and monitors driving hours.
Jim Booty, co-ordinator of Northwold Community Car Scheme, believes the move will have a disastrous impact on the service he runs due to the security checks, insurance difficulties and red-tape his drivers will face.
He said: "If this goes ahead, I cannot see the scheme continuing to exist.
"The car scheme has been going for nearly 18 years and is used to help people get to dentist or hospital appointments, things like that.
"The majority of our drivers are retired people who have the time to spare, they use their own cars and their time is given for free."
As well as offering services locally in West Norfolk, trips further afield, such as to Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, can be catered for.
The move has been designed to minimise the risk to public safety, particularly where children or vulnerable adults are being carried in unlicensed vehicles by unlicensed drivers.
Similar fears have also been raised by the Heacham and District Community Car Scheme, although details of the new regulations have yet to reach chairman Bill Hemmings.
He told the Lynn News: "If it does happen I think it would be goodbye.
"We are a voluntary service and rely on donations and fundraising. We do not receive any payments other than a petrol allowance."
Mr Hemmings said 90 per cent of service users are pensioners and in August alone the scheme made 638 journeys.
The new licences will be issued by local authorities and West Norfolk Council is looking at the implications of the legislation before working on a policy for the borough.
The new regulations for buses has also been slammed by operators in West Norfolk, who believe a cutback in services is now inevitable.
Ben Colson, managing director of Norfolk Green, has described the new legislation, which has been introduced at EU level, as "ludicrous" and believes rural services will suffer.
He said: "Rural services are being withdrawn in increasing numbers.
"In the past this was due to a lack of passengers, now the demand is going up at an unprecedented rate, but we have got daft, stupid legislation which is causing buses to be withdrawn."
As well as installing a tachograph, drivers will also have to gain a certificate of professional conduct while adhering to a new working hours directive and a law which states they must have two consecutive days off in a week.
Mr Colson said Norfolk Green has already lost one service due to the legislation after it decided not to renew its weekly route between Downham and Norwich.
A full review of all Norfolk Green networks is now being planned with further withdrawals not being ruled out.
Another casualty of the new legislation is the Out and About minibus service based in Ingoldisthorpe, which offers theatre visits and shopping trips, predominantly for pensioners.
Ken Gibson (63), who runs the service with wife, Suzanne, will cease trading in January as the business simply cannot afford to fund the changes.
Mr Gibson said: "To have a tachograph fitted and to enrol on the course, I am looking at 1,500. It is just not worthwhile financially so I have decided to get out.
"It has not been about making money, it is more like a club.
"It has been a very enjoyable hobby, but with the new laws that have come in I cannot carry on."
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 26 May 2012
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