A volunteer transport scheme has been given a £34,000 boost in the shape of a new bus which will take to the roads this weekend to transport disabled visitors to Shrewsbury Flower Show.
The new purpose-built vehicle has joined the fleet of Sundorne-based Dial-a-Ride thanks to a generous donation from Shropshire Horticultural Society.
Fittingly the first job for the bus will be shuttling wheelchair users from public car parks to the Quarry for the show organised by the society.
Neal Urquhart, manager of the scheme which provides lifts for people who cannot use public transport, said he was delighted with the new vehicle, the sixth on the fleet.
“It’s basically up-dating the fleet so we can keep it as new as possible, the new bus has automatic steps which will save our volunteers having to lift them up and down every time someone gets on.
“I’d like to say a big massive thank you to the society and it will be available at the Flower Show for people to see it for themselves,” he added.
Peter Road-Night, secretary of the SHS, said organisers of the Flower Show are always looking to support local charities with profits from the popular event.
“Dial-a-Ride have supported us for many years by providing transport for our disabled shuttle service visitors.
“Part of the idea from the profit we make at each show is to support charities from within the county. Dial-a-Ride approached us about the bus and we’ve given them around £34,000.”
• Bloom news – page 10; • More Flower Show news – page 13 of Shrewsbury Chronicle on sale now.