Melksham Area Community Transport
Welcome to Melksham Area Community Transport
hat is Melksham Area Community Transport? You may have seen our buses around the area and wondered what they are and what they are doing. These belong to Melksham Area Community Transport, a local charity. When talking to people in and around Melksham it seems there are many people who do not know about Melksham Area Community Transport and what they do. So how did the organisation start?
The organisation was founded by a group of people who had realised there were many older people in Melksham who were often unable to get out due to lack of easily accessible transport. A charity was set up by the group to attempt to change the situation. This group acquired a small minibus and started to provide transport for days out and for shopping trips. This provision has grown over the years and now the Charity has five buses and provides a variety of services to local people.
So what do we do now?
1. Shopper buses – for bookings call the TIC Trips to Devizes, Trowbridge or Chippenham on Thursday mornings. The bus can pick up from home, take passengers to one of these town centres where they can spend a couple of hours. The bus then picks them up again and transports them and their shopping home. The bus goes to each of these towns on a rotating schedule each week. Pick- ups can be arranged for any local location including Central Melksham, Forest, Bowerhill, Broughton Gifford, Norrington Common, Whitley and Atworth. Check with the TIC for availability Shopper bus to Sainsburys Melksham on Friday mornings. Picking up at home the bus goes to Sainsburys for about an hour, then returns passengers home. The driver will help to get shopping to the door if needed, on request. These buses are free for those eligible for a bus pass.
2. Travel Club Through the year the Tourist Information Office Travel Club organise a day trip on a monthly basis. The bus goes to various destinations – Weymouth, Weston super Mare, Abergavenny and Wells and more. There is a charge for these days out. For more information or to book a place on any of these please call the Tourist Information Office on 01225 707424 or drop in for a chat.
3. Buses for Schools, Care Homes, Social Clubs or Community Organisations The Community Bus can be booked for groups to be taken to educational visits, sporting activities, days out trips for care homes, transport for social clubs etc. If you are a member of a group needing transport, get in contact through the Tourist Information Office who will put you in touch with the Community Bus Co-ordinator. There is a charge for these bookings.
4. Daily School Buses Community Transport runs buses for students attending Corsham School from Holt, Broughton Gifford, Atworth and parts of Melksham where there is no viable alternative
So how might you be able to help?
The organisation is a registered charity managed by a small group of voluntary Trustees who meet a few times a year. Day to day running is the responsibility of the Co-ordinator, the Transport Manager and the marvellous group of drivers employed by the charity. The Charity needs more voluntary Trustees to help steer the organisation and to ensure it continues to serve the Melksham Area community into the future.
If you think you have some time to offer and could make a contribution or want to talk about hiring one of the buses please get in touch 01225 707424 or by email to info@visit-melksham.com These are the email and phone number for the Tourist Information Office who will pass on any communication.
Please contact us on melkshamcommunitybus@gmail.com for information and booking form or use the link below.
bookingformforbushire
Shopper Bus
Contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01225 707424 to book for the shopper bus, picks up from your home. You need to have a Bus Pass (either senior or disabled issued from council).
Thursday - goes to either Devizes, Trowbridge or Chippenham
Friday - goes to Sainsburys in Melksham
Day Trips 2006 - Community Bus Days Out
Thursday - goes to either Devizes, Trowbridge or Chippenham
Friday - goes to Sainsburys in Melksham
Day Trips 2006 - Community Bus Days Out
Saturday 6th June - Weston-Super-Mare
Saturday 11th July - Weymouth
Saturday 15th August - Poole
Saturday 12th September - White Horse Tour stopping off in Marlborough
Saturday 10th October - Abergavenny
Saturday 14th November - Salisbury