Dial-a-ride bus to run a reduced service

A dial-a-ride bus service in Surrey will run a reduced service following council funding cuts.

From 1 April, Woking Community Transport will no longer take people to hospitals such as Ashford, St Peters or the Royal Surrey in Guildford.

The service will also charge an annual membership fee and operate for fewer hours.

A Woking Borough Council spokesperson said the authority was doing everything it could to support the group to "deliver the best service it can for local residents".

The council is making £8m of savings, after declaring itself effectively bankrupt in June.

Woking Community Transport managing director and CEO Guy Padfield-Wilkins said the changes were “incredibly disappointing”, but other sources of funding are being looked at.

The group, which has operated for 32 years, wrote a letter, external outlining the changes.

Mr Padfield-Wilkins said: “We’re immensely grateful to the council, because what they have managed to do is come up with a deal, which means that we pay a ‘peppercorn rent’ on our office accommodation and we’re able to stay where we are."

He said the organisation had been looking at the prospect of having to move and that the council had also helped with car parking for the minibuses.

A Woking Borough Council spokesperson said the service was "invaluable" to some of the most vulnerable in the borough but that the council could no longer support voluntary and charitable organisations as it previously had.

The spokesperson added: "Despite this, we are proud that we have agreed an extensive support package that will enable Woking Community Transport to provide a service to Hale End Court day care facility and a reduced but highly valued dial-a-ride service."

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, external, and on X, external. Send your story ideas to [email protected], external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.