A VITAL community transport service in Malmesbury, which has been under threat due to increasing costs, has been given a lifeline.

The Cartmell Community Minibus is used by a number of care homes, charities and youth groups in Malmesbury and the surrounding area, however it is becoming financially unviable.

The Malmesbury Area Board granted the minibus team a £2,000 grant recently which should help keep them going while they try to raise funds for a replacement bus.

The money has helped the minibus team cover their annual insurance and allowed them to put some money aside for future unanticipated costs.

Due to the age of the bus and the strict safety checks it needs to pass every 10 weeks, it often incurs significant repair costs, which the area board grant will help them weather in the future.

A spokesperson for the minibus said they are thankful to the area board, but insist they still face financial constraints.

“We don’t want to overprice the bus because of the sort of groups using it, such as charities,” they said.

“What they pay covers the everyday expenses, but not large bills.

“This money means we can keep a little bit of capital for when we have large bills. It means there’s enough to go on a little longer.

“We’ll go as long as we can, hopefully with continued support from the community.”

Wiltshire Council member Simon Killane, deputy chairman of the Malmesbury Area Board, said the grant said will help the minibus, but they need more people to use it.

“There is a real need out there for it,” he said.

“We as a council need to help publicise the bus.

“For them to keep it going they need to be able to make repairs.

“We want to help them get into viable position.”

Call 01666 577370 for more information or to book the minibus.