Councillors get on board to help their community (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Councillors get on board to help their community

October 16, 2009 12:00 AM

Horsforth councillors and elderly residents are celebrating the arrival of a brand new mini bus.

A £12,000 donation was made earlier this year towards the cost of a new 17 seater community bus.

Horsforth mini bus fund previously had an old bus they had bought second hand. This had got in such a bad state with a leaking roof and badly scraped and dented that it was becoming unsafe. Volunteers led by the funds' secretary and volunteer bus driver John Hardcastle began raising money three years ago for a new mini bus. Local councillors were so pleased with their efforts they decided to help out and put £12,000 into the pot.

Many community groups and elderly people in the area use the minibus every week to get them to church, the supermarket, day centres and luncheon clubs. The bus picks up people from outside their homes and one of the funds three drivers help with any bags. The group offers many trips outside the local area in the summer months with visits to York, Whitby and Southport. These trips are always oversubscribed.

Cllr Brian Cleasby (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said:

"This bus service is a great community resource and it gives the elderly and less able residents the opportunity to get out and about. We are absolutely delighted that they now have a brand new bus for the first time in their 30 year history.

Cllr Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said:

"John Hardcastle and all of the funds other volunteers and supporters have done a great job raising money for the new bus over the last three years. We thought this group was very deserving because of their dedication to the people of Horsforth and the extent of their fund raising efforts. We decided to give them a helping hand so they could get this bus as soon as possible."