A COMMUNITY car scheme aimed at providing transport to vulnerable Abergavenny residents has been launched in the town.

From Monday, volunteer drivers will be available for bookings from people who find it difficult to access other means of transportation.

The service will help people get out and about to medical appointments, social activities and local shops.

A community car scheme has been running in Monmouth for the last two years, with the Abergavenny project co-ordinator Amanda Brake hailing it as a “roaring success”.

Ms Brake told Monmouthshire council’s Bryn-y-Cwm area committee: “It started with around five journeys a week, but now they’re doing around 50 trips a week.

“This project came about through working and supporting the most vulnerable people in Monmouthshire.

“These can be older people, or those who feel lonely or isolated. Transport is a barrier for a lot of people, with some people too low on confidence to get a taxi.”

Customers will be charged a 50p booking fee and will pay 45p per mile, with the costs covering the expenses of running the service.

Drivers will cover the town and outlying rural areas, while also offering the chance for longer trips to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and across the border to Hereford.

The scheme is run by the Monmouth non-profit Bridges Centre, together with the county-wide befriending scheme, Community Connections.

Committee member Owen Dodd said: “This scheme is a community response to one of the biggest challenges that we have got in Monmouthshire.”

All volunteer drivers are DBS checked and are required to provide references and attend an induction.

Ms Brake told the committee that the scheme is in need of volunteers, with applicants urged to call 01600 887568.