RESIDENTS have been benefitting from Redditch’s new cheaper community transport fees.

Members of the Christ Church Lunch Club in Matchborough became the first group to travel at Redditch Dial A Ride’s new lower prices when the changes came into effect on August 1.

Redditch Borough Councillors previously voted to slash journey fees by up to 50 per cent.

Resident Dave Tory, who is disabled and has been using the service for 18 months, has welcomed the decision.

The 79-year-old said: "It's a very good service. I use it five times a week. 

"It's a very useful operation and there's some very good people working in it".

He added that he hopes more people can now take advantage of the service.

Redditch Borough Council’s portfolio holder for community services, councillor Monica Stringfellow, said: “Dial A Ride customers are already benefitting from this change, and it was lovely to chat to some of our passengers and to hear first hand how pleased they are about the reduction.

"I hope that many more people and groups will use our highly accessible, great value community transport service to enable their activities too.”

Council leader, Joe Baker, added: “This council wants to overcome and remove barriers between people and their communities wherever possible. That’s a big reason why we have ensured that this service is very affordable for people in Redditch.”

Dial A Ride, which was used for over 17,000 journeys last year, is a door-to-door service for borough residents who cannot use public transport. It uses modern wheelchair-accessible minibuses with low rise steps for easy access and runs Monday to Friday with first pick-ups from 8.50am and last pick-ups at 4.20pm, except Fridays which are 4pm.

People can register for Dial A Ride by calling 01527 64910, for just £15 a year. For more information, call the team or visit www.redditchbc.gov.uk/DialARide.

Dial a Ride costs just £2.50 a journey with a concessionary bus pass (£3.50 for medical journeys) or £3.50 without (£4.50 for medical journeys).