CHARITY officials in Nafferton have been celebrating after they were given the go-ahead to continue providing minibus services to local rural communities.
The Nafferton Millennium Committee has agreed a new three-year contract with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to provide weekly MiBus services to Driffield on a number of routes serving residents in surrounding villages.
Committee secretary Sh
eila Cook said: "It's absolutely fantastic for those people who have really got used to having these services."
And driver Tim Fuller added: "We've been a bit worried waiting to see if the contract would be renewed.
"We know a lot of people have come to rely on the service."
At the moment, the scheme provides travel to and from Driffield from a host of surrounding villages via the Nafferton Community Minibus.
The services, which are free to anyone with an East Yorkshire bus pass, are particularly aimed at helping people who do not have regular use of a car or who find it difficult to access public transport.
Mr Fuller said: "We are always happy to help people on and off, if necessary, and to help with their bags.
"We don't have a strict timetable to stick to, so we have time to help.
"We can pick you up from your door and return you there later in the day."
There is a twice-weekly run to the town from Nafferton, while services are also run on the following routes:
Every Tuesday: Langtoft, Foxholes, Wold Newton, Thwing and Kilham.
Every Thursday: Hutton Cranswick.
Every Thursday: Langtoft, Kilham, Harpham and Lowthorpe.
Every Thursday: Wetwang, Sledmere and Garton on the Wolds.
First and third Friday of each month: Bainton, Middleton, North Dalton, Huggate, Tibthorpe, Kirkburn and Kelleythorpe.
Second Friday of each month: Wetwang and villages to Stamford Bridge.
Although the Tuesday and Thursday routes are popular with passengers, more can still be accommodated.
But officials are keen to encourage more passengers to use the Bainton route, which was first introduced last June and is still in its trial period.
The next run takes place this Friday and Mr Fuller said: "We had a small group of regulars before the snow came but we need to build on that if we are to keep the service running."
Anyone who would like to book a seat should phone (08456) 445949 the day before the route runs so the driver knows where to go to. For more details, contact Mr Fuller on 07743 443029.
l See a map of the routes on page 10
l Nafferton Notes on page 13
