The organisers behind a long running transport service in the Machynlleth area have announced that the service will come to an end this year.

On January 28, the organisers of Dyfi Valley Dial-a-Ride said the service would close on March 31, having offered lifts and transport to people in the area for more than 20 years.

The charity announced on social media that it would no longer be able to provide transportation services but added that transport may still be available from the non-profit organisation Community Action Machynlleth and District (CAMAD) with sufficient notice.

Dyfi Valley Dial-a-Ride manager Wendy Jones said: “We’ve lost some volunteers, for various reasons, over the past few years, which is one reason behind the scheme being more difficult to run. But a big reason is the general cost and the changing landscape around us.

“We used to get a lot of business with the local care centres open, but many have closed and don’t seem to be opening back up, which cuts off a supply of people in the community.

“So much of Dial-a-Ride is run from unpaid volunteers, but even then, on a financial side of things it’s not sustainable in the current climate. It’s unfortunate but it’s the way things are now as the cost of running, maintaining and keeping vehicles on the road gets higher and higher. For example, we don’t get enough use out of our mini-bus to warrant the expense of insuring it.

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Dial-a-ride’s drivers specialise in transporting elderly, disabled, and the vulnerable including wheelchair users, but also offered transport to anyone in need of assistance during the Covid-19 Pandemic, including offering a free service for vaccination transport.

Their unpaid drivers were also PAVO registered, DBS checked, and MIDAS trained. Their closure announcement took time to thank their various drivers/volunteers of recent years.

It stated: “We would like to thank all of our members and clients with special thanks to Paula Dempsey , Wendy Jones, Derek Owens, Reg Young, Adam Luckock , George Latham and Terry Moody for giving your time and best efforts.

Ms Jones said: “I joined in 2010, which wasn’t even the start of the project, so it dates back at least 20 years. We would love to have kept our vehicles on the roads, but with nothing else to support Dial-a-ride it becomes unsustainable.”