General Chat

Nothing to do with no-one wanting to ride in it, then?

Drivers over 70 need to have a medical every 3 years, whatever they're driving, renewal is also free,
What MAY cost, is if you are unsure of your ability to drive, and go to an assessmet centre.
An eye test (also free) is a faff? Crikey!
Much better then, to avoid faff, avoid specs, and drive around half blind - much more 'manly'!

Maggie did I misread your post? There is currnetly no requirement for drivers of 70 to have a medical every three year. Only a renewal of license when you are expected to reveal any new problems with health etc.

No, sorry, I was 'fighting' with George (cat) who was in front of the screen, and on my mouse hand (yes, he's a contortionist)

"People aged over 70 still need to review their licence every three years, and your GP may still need to assess your fitness to drive if you have certain medical conditions as detailed below."

From Age UK.

You also can't drive a bus, coach or lorry if you have high blood pressure - at any age!

Sharron, it may be possible to buy a cheap, but roadworthy minibus from one of the many Youth Clubs that have closed, due to cuts in Council funding from the Government.

There are also firms/businesses/individuals who donate money to 'worthy' causes/charties - it cuts their tax bill!

I said it was free RTR - YOU were going on about the cost of something or other, and 'faff' of an eye test!!
Sheesh.

Not sure how a link to the DVLA helps - no-one from genes is likely to volunteer to drive in Sharron's village :-D
But well done for finding it.

We have the mini-bus, Maggie, but it needs some repair..

The mini-bus service, not the same one all the time, has continued for fifty odd years. The details of who can and can't drive it are puely academic in the context of this thread.

What I was trying to find out was not how much Rollo could find out about driving licences but what impression was being conveyed by naming the service,'The Good Companions Transport Club'.

Carry on Rollo. At least you are not beating the missus while you are googling!

There you are,then, Sharron, the names fine, you obviously don't have a properly qualified driver, you're not keeping the bus in the right place, Hampshire and Sussex social transport has atropied - whatever that means - and RTR knows, because he lives, where?
However, it doesn't matter where he lives, he apparently knows all about volunteer services in *checks* Hampshire and Sussex, which is a bit random -- no mention of Dorset, though.
He's also stated that the DVLA now doesn't charge to renew licenses - though according to him, it did, earlier in the day.

So, there you go - sorted!!!!

Surely you're sooo grateful for that totally off- topic mansplain.
You'll be ready if the subject ever comes up!

*watches the tumbleweed...........................................

Back to the subject.

Has anyone thought of putting a short questionnaire in the parish magazine, asking what people want?
This could be a general 'wish list' as well.

And again a sensible sort of question has been turned into Rollo the Wrong Show!

Haven’t we already discussed the services the social bus was possibly providing?

Sharron, you know my sister runs a Youth Club and campsite, with 'C'.
'C' also used to host gatherings for the elderly, where crafts were learnt, and outings happened.

The club, campsite and gatherings were/are charities,and all 3 used the same minibus, which is usually driven by C, who is 80+.
The cost of the upkeep of the minibus was shared by all 3 groups, and money was made by hiring it out occasionally to the school, or wedding parties.
Hence my suggestion about a questionnaire.
The minibus could be used for many other things, along with shopping trips.

Strangely, the younger of my (elder) brothers, up until recently, used to voluntarily drive a minibus for the elderly of the New Forest.
When the number of volunteer drivers dwindled, the Council started paying them.
Thus, it appears, not indicating the loss of social transport stated by some.

Brother had to give it up, due to high blood pressure, but will be able to go back when said blood pressure is lower and has stabilised.
Just realised, brother is 71 this year, and he goes through the 'faff' of getting his eyes tested every year.

Nameslessone - but maybe it could prvide more services! :-D :-D

:-D :-D

Maybe we should all get together and have a pity party for Rollo as he seems to live in a very rough area where he is surrounded by burnt out minibuses.

Really,I was just wanting to know if the name was conveying the wrong message.

The mini-bus your brother drives, will that be covered by Hampshire County Council?.

They are not constituted in the same way as West Sussex,part of whose constitution is to not owe money. They are well mean!

I think almost all of us got that. I’ m just hoping that we are not going to be barred from the area. ;-)

Ha ha Maggie. Ask what people want! Gawd, I wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of responses.

By the way, there must be a few small people-movers going cheap since covid and I am sure they would come with a driver.

I once knew a Russian who drove a lady of the night round . he was always nice to me, behaved like a real gentleman and I actually liked him. He'd come from a white Russian background so his family got out quickly. His chat was really funny. His wife, (not his client), was nice too. :-D

We have gone, or been led, well off track.

The question is not what people want, that is a whole other topic,it is what people understand the Good Companions Transport Club to be.

We have the mini-bus, we have the insurance and a chairman who has been running the 'club' for a long time, and his mum before him.

We need to be sure that we are getting the message to people that the mini-bus is there for them to use and that it is not for the exclusive use of anybody in particular.

I was really not asking for any special knowledge.

Sharron, is it just that temporarily, because of the whole covid situation, people may be reluctant to use it as there may not be enough space dor safe distancing? If that is the case, things will get better as restrictions ease.

It is not anything like as easy to get drivers as it was for the mini-bus and fewer people use it. We know this is because of the changing nature of the village but I feel that, rather than join in with the hand wringing, we should take the problem apart and examine it, maybe take a different path.

the Covid situation has just highlighted a few things, made them worse but made them noticeable as well.

Sharron - not sure which council paid, could be a New forest thing.