A COMMUNITY car scheme that has provided a vital service for the past decade is under threat due to a desperate lack of volunteers.

The WHEELS project takes people from the Williton and Watchet areas to medical appointments or on shopping trips. The service is aimed at people who are unable to drive or travel on a bus and is run by a team of volunteer drivers and coordinators who have at times covered around 130 trips a month. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, it had to close down temporarily.

But even before the pandemic, WHEELS was very short of volunteer drivers and having lost several long standing volunteers recently after the lockdown restrictions were eased, organisers are now struggling to get going again.

WHEELS chairman John Carslake said: “Our worst fears were realised in the last week before the pandemic when we were forced to say to a total of seven people that nobody could drive them to their appointments.

“If we can’t find more people to volunteer we will be forced for the first time to cut back on the service that we give.

“This will be very sad for a lot of elderly and infirm people who greatly value the service.”

Co-ordinators, who arrange the journeys on the WHEELS phone, are desperately needed. They volunteer for about one week in four, while drivers undertake trips at times to suit them, and receive 45p a mile to cover their car expenses.

Anyone interested in helping to keep WHEELS on the road can contact the group for more information on 07891-821-861 or can contact Mr Carslake via email at [email protected]

“Drivers can give as little or as much time as they want,” said Mr Carslake. “Even a few hours a month would help.”