Minibus handed over in new initiative between Gairloch Community Car Scheme and Highland Council

A PIONEERING transport partnership looks set to bring added benefits to a Wester Ross community while also saving taxpayers’ cash.

Starting later this month the Gairloch Community Car Scheme will begin operating and managing a “home to school” transport contract for the village. In doing so they will have use of a Highland Council owned vehicle for the Community Transport group’s activities at all times other than when it is operating the school run.

This means the new minibus will be available to the community every day between school runs, during school holidays, evenings and weekends.

Highland Council has bought the vehicle and will cover all operating costs of the home to school service, including employing a local driver, fuel and maintenance – and will still make a saving in the region of £20,000 a year.

The eight-seat minibus was delivered at a special open day recently.

GCCS director Annette Mackenzie said: “We thank the council for bringing our amazing vehicle along for the open day.

Chairman of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Allan Henderson said the project was the first of its kind in the Highlands, adding: “The council recognises the importance of local community transport initiatives across the Highlands and this new way of providing a service and at the same time making significant budget savings is a win-win situation for us and the community."

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