TRIP offers days out from Sidmouth to offset lost fares

WITH free bus passes for the over 60s, TRIP is losing custom for its Ring and Ride shopping service.

To counteract the decline, the Honiton-based charity has introduced a new service of door-to-door day trips out, covering the Sidmouth, Branscombe and Ottery St Mary areas.

For £4, people living in Branscombe, Sidbury and Sidford can use the shopping service, which runs every Friday, collecting from houses at about 9.30am and returning around 12.15pm.

Neil Hurlock, TRIP manager, said: "Unfortunately people are not able to use their free bus pass on Ring and Ride services. This is felt by us, and most community transport groups, to almost be discriminating against those people who either are too unwell or disabled to get to a bus stop, or who live too far from a service as they have to pay for us to collect them."

Now Branscombe, Sidmouth, Farway, Sidford and Sidbury residents can book day trips out on Tuesdays with TRIP, visiting such places as Sherborne, Bovey Tracey, Torquay, and Wells for £7-£11.

For those living in Ottery St Mary, West Hill, Aylesbeare, Tipton St John and Weston Alfington, shopping trips are available on Tuesday and Thursday to stores as far away as Newton Abbot, Taunton and Exmouth.

As well as providing transport for older people, TRIP minibuses can take the disabled and rurally isolated of any age.

Mr Hurlock said: "The free bus pass has knocked Ring and Ride services here. Now those who get a free bus pass, and are capable of walking, carry their shopping home.

"Those too frail to do that or too far away from a bus stop have to pay for services which the more fit are being paid for.

"Where we were getting 10 to 12 on a bus and £40 in fares, now we may get three and £12.

"We are hoping the days out will cover our costs and give people the chance of doing something they can't normally do."

* Honiton Ring & Ride NEW SERVICE serving Farway, Sidmouth, Sidford, Sidbury & Branscombe

Day trips out on TUESDAY door to door service. First Pick up from 9.30am, return home around 4.00pm.

October

21st- Bovey Tracey & Trago Mills £8.00; 28th- Ashburton & Endsleigh Garden Ctr. £9.00.

November

4th- Babbacombe & Bygones- £8.00; 11th- Sherborne- £9.00; 18th- Torquay- £9.00

25th- Wells- £11.00.

December

2nd- Monkton Elms Garden Ctr. & ASDA Taunton £8.00; 9th- Clarks Village- £9.00;

16th- Willowbrook Garden Centre & Wellington £7.00; 23rd- Country Drive and Pub Lunch- £6.00 (plus lunch).

Phone (01404) 46529 to book or visit 29-31 New Street Honiton.

Shopping Trips on FRIDAY service covers Sidbury, Sidford and Branscombe.

Door to door service into Honiton & Honiton Tesco with help carrying your shopping.

Fully accessible minibus, First pick up from 9.30. To book transport or more information please phone (01404) 46529.

Door to Door Minibus Service for Weston Alfington, Ottery St Mary, West Hill, Aylesbeare & Tipton St. John.

Shopping trips TUESDAY & THURSDAY first pick up from 9.30am

Every Tuesday- Honiton Tesco and the Market £4.00

Thursday October 23rd- Exmouth- £5.00; 30th- Sainsburys Taunton £6.00.

November

6th- Newton Abbot & ASDA- £7.00; 13th- Trago Mills £7.00; 20th- Exmouth- £5.00;

27th- Sainsburys Taunton- £6.00.

December

4th- Newton Abbot & ASDA £7.00; 11th- Sidmouth Garden Centre/ Waitrose £5.00;

18th- Exmouth £5.00; 23rd- Sainsburys Taunton £6.00.

Phone (01404) 46529 to book