MP Rebecca Pow spent a morning at the Community Centre in Wiveliscombe finding out about all the services they provide, including the Wivey Link Community Transport service.

“This service provides a vital link for local people with 650 signed up users, it is a lifeline for many people, particularly the elderly – enabling them to get out to the shops, bank, hospital appointments and much beside.

It also provides invaluable as the driver is often the only person some people see every week. I also applaud the 36 volunteer drivers that run the service, which could not operate without them. With change in trends in transport and pressure on bus services, the Wivey Link is something of a role model for community transport, and I will certainly be highlighting it to the appropriate organisations and indeed to the Government Department for Transport.

I will also be urging Taunton Deane Borough Council in particular to ring-fence their funding contribution to Wivey Link.