A THREE-DAY music festival is just one event planned to raise funds for a community bus for Staindrop.
A campaign for the transport scheme was launched at the Wheatsheaf Inn pub on Monday after it was postponed last year because of Covid-19.
Former pub landlord Morris Race, who is spearheading the crusade, hopes about £20,000 can be collected to buy an eight-seater mini-bus which can be used by community groups in the village. It can also be used for mundane tasks such as taking people shopping or to attend hospital appointments.
He said: “Some people are waiting all day for a bus for a half-hour visit to Barney. The WI could book it for a trip to Whitby for a walk and they can drive it themselves because it will be insured for any driver.
“I am passionate for it to belong to the whole village and to be used by young and old. It could be used to take kids to concerts, or the Brownies or Guides could book it.”
The plan is for people or groups to be able to rent the bus at a nominal fee, the proceeds of which will be used to pay for tax, insurance and maintenance. More cash to run the project could be raised by putting the names of business sponsors on the bus, Mr Race said.
Although the scheme was planned before the global pandemic and had already received financial support from Louis Smith Motors and the village’s Freemasons, Mr Race believes it will be even more important as lockdown restrictions are eased. He said: “It will increase the social aspect for people and it will reduce isolation for young and old people. Who knows, five years from now we could have two buses or a bigger one?”
The aim of the meeting this week was to recruit people to a committee, which will write up a constitution, register as a charity and open a bank account. Mr Race is drawing on his experience as Scarth Memorial Hall chairman, where he arranged the village’s successful annual beer and music festival, to put on a three-day event from September 3 at the Masonic Hall. Other events are also being planned. Anyone who would like to get involved, or sponsor glasses for the music festival, can contact Mr Race by email at morrisrace@btinternet.com.
