New community bus in Mablethorpe sets wheels in motion to benefit community groups

Coastal community groups are '˜wheelie' happy with a new £75,000 bus which could be just the ticket to help them get around.
Community members at Hope House celebrate the arrival of the new bus. Inset: These local ladies get a tour round the new bus.Community members at Hope House celebrate the arrival of the new bus. Inset: These local ladies get a tour round the new bus.
Community members at Hope House celebrate the arrival of the new bus. Inset: These local ladies get a tour round the new bus.

After securing all-important Government funding, Mablethorpe Christian Fellowship is set to offer community groups – including those in Mablethorpe, Trusthorpe, Sutton on Sea and Huttoft – the chance to use the bus.

The 16-seat vehicle, which is disabled friendly, replaces a six-year-old vehicle that had reached the end of the line.

After a two-year wait to sort out all the red tape, the vehicle was handed over to the Fellowship last week, a month ahead of schedule.

The bus will be run from Hope House, the fellowship’s headquarters.

Nigel Collins, leader of Mablethorpe Christian Fellowship, said: “We previously had a bus which we’d ran for the last six years but it just came to end of its days, as it was a fairly old.

“We looked into ways to get a new bus and applied for funding from the Department of Transport scheme – and our bid was successful.

“We are one of the first in the country to receive our bus under this scheme and I am still pinching myself that the bus is here a month early. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”

Fellowship trustees met last week to discuss utilising the bus for the benefit of the whole community – apart from the church.

A date has been set for any community groups to come forward and express their interest.

A meeting will take place on Thursday, June 2, at Hope House in Victoria Road, Mablethorpe from 6-8pm.

Mr Collins added: “Now the bus is here, we are also on the look-out for volunteer drivers and assistants to help out.”

l If anyone would like to get involved, or community groups looking for more details, call Mr Collins on 07775 844206 or email [email protected].

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