New community transport scheme launched for Eynsford and surrounding villages

People living in Eynsford, Lullingstone and Farningham now have access to a new community transport initiative, set up by Darent Valley Community Church (DVCC) with support from local residents and enabled by a grant from Kent County Council. As part of national Community Transport Week (#CTWeek24) the scheme was officially launched last Wednesday at The Space, a community hub which meets at the Riverside Club in Eynsford. The event was attended by over 85 residents, Laura Trott (MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley), representatives from Kent County Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Eynsford and Farningham Parish Councils, the Community Church, Eynsford Village Society and children from Anthony Roper Primary School.

So far, the scheme has enrolled fourteen volunteer drivers who provide a ‘volunteer car scheme’ for those who struggle to attend health and social care appointments due to insufficient access to private or public transport. Steve Boddington (DVCC project lead) said “KCC’s community transport grant enabled us to purchase a specially adapted wheelchair accessible vehicle, so we can now extend the scheme to include local residents with additional mobility needs. Also, we are delighted to announce that our local garage, BS Motors, has agreed to sponsor this vehicle.”

Mrs Diane Grant, as one of the oldest members of the community at 95 years of age, cut a ribbon in front of the adapted vehicle which will be known as The Space Wagon!

Roger Gough (Leader of KCC) said “It’s a fantastic achievement by The Space to launch its Community Transport service. At Kent County Council, we believe that good transport is vital to tackling isolation and we are delighted to play our part through a £44,000 payment from our community transport grant. The Space Wagon will be a great resource for communities in the Darent Valley and hopefully beyond.”

Lawrence Ball (Chair of Sevenoaks District Council) commented that “It is truly impressive to see how the scheme drew together the community -including the Church, Riverside Club and BS Motors - and with help from the County Council, District Council and Government, achieved its objective. I believe that this achievement will be highlighted and used as a role model to other communities.”

Please contact us if you would like to volunteer with the scheme, or if you live in Eynsford, Farningham or Lullingstone and would like to register to use the volunteer car scheme. If you live in the wider Darent Valley/West Kingsdown area and have an interested in using the Space Wagon (our wheelchair accessible vehicle), please get in touch:

Dedicated phone number: 07405 710197 (9am to 5pm)

e-mail: dvcc.car@outlook.com

website: www.dvcc.online/community-car