A LIFELINE to help hundreds of Minehead’s elderly and disabled, who have serious problems keeping hospital and other medical appointments since the town’s voluntary community car scheme was closed by Covid four years ago, will be unveiled at a crisis meeting on Thursday, May 4.

“There is an enormous demand which just isn’t being met, and there are stories coming from Minehead which would reduce you to tears,” said David Croxton, chair of West Somerset Community Car Schemes Partnership.

“There are literally hundreds of people in Minehead who would benefit from a really good community car scheme - and that’s what we want to provide.

“Vulnerable Minehead people have seriously suffered over the past four years. Our voluntary services and NHS patient transport help out whenever we can but we have to turn a lot of people away. It’s very distressing.

“Now, with village agents and the Community Council for Somerset, we plan to launch a new community car scheme for Minehead at a public meeting at the Beach Hotel on Thursday, May 4, at 7pm.”

When the previous Minehead car scheme collapsed during Covid it had over 12 drivers and was a key part of the town’s transport system. Only now are there serious plans for its revival.

Mr Croxton added: “There has never been such a call on our services.

“Many outlying parishes such as Williton, Watchet and Porlock, already run successful schemes.”

Mr Croxton added: “We are hoping to set up a Minehead scheme which will recruit its own drivers and co-ordinators. Now we just need the people of Minehead to step forward and make it happen.”

Drivers use their own cars in the voluntary non-profit scheme, co-ordinated by volunteers working from home. Costs are re-reimbursed. Schemes work alongside local taxi operators and the ATWEST community transport charity.

ATWEST has offered to make a substantial donation to the new Minehead scheme once it is up and running.

“If enough drivers come forward we can provide a good service without it being onerous for those willing to volunteer,” Mr Croxton said.

“Whether you want to consider registering as a passenger, a driver or a co-ordinator you are invited to join us on May 4 to learn more and hopefully get involved.

“The service is to transport people to hospital and medical appointments but it is also available to everyone in the community. All of us involved in community transport are doing that we can to help what has turned into a crisis for Minehead.

“You hear stories like elderly people turning off their heating in order to pay for a taxi to hospital and spending all day on public transport to get to a brief appointment at Musgrove.

“It’s very urgent to get something going to prevent these sorts of incidents in the future.”