Other Council Info

Dereham Community Car Scheme

We need more volunteer drivers, so if you enjoy driving, have your own car, enjoy the company of others and have a few hours a week to spare, call us on 01362 693821 or Barry Blackmore teh Coordinator on 01362 690207.

This tells you all about the scheme;-

This scheme is sponsored by Breckland Council and Dereham Town Council and is available only to those people who live in the Parish of Dereham and satisfy the conditions set out below:- 

1.                  WHAT IS A COMMUNITY CAR SCHEME? 

A Community Car Scheme is simply an organised non-profit making form of car sharing. It provides transport for essential journeys for people in the Town without access to a car and where there is no suitable public transport. Volunteer drivers use their own cars and are paid an agreed rate to cover their running costs, as permitted by the public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981. This Act also permits the charging of fares and provides that the driver’s own normal insurance will cover him or her when participating in the Scheme. The fares cover approximately half the costs of the scheme, the other half being made up by Dereham Town Council and Breckland Council. 

2.                  WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO USE THE SCHEME? 

The Scheme is available to those persons resident within the civil Parish of Dereham (ie Dereham including Toftwood) who are unable to make an essential journey by public or private hire transport, and also to any person who would otherwise be unable, without unreasonable difficulty, to make an authorised journey because of the lack of a public transport service. 

3.                  WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN ESSENTIAL JOURNEY? 

A Journey is authorised where it is essential the passenger attend such places as:-         (i) Hospital    (ii) Doctor’s         (iii) Dentist  Surgery         (iv)   Optician      (v)    Chiropodist   (vi)    Pharmists   (vii)   Health Centre     (viii)  Visiting the sick and elderly  (ix)     Making bus/train connections                    

And any similar type of destination which the relevant Committee of    Dereham Town Council shall from time to time specify. 

4.                  HOW TO USE THE SCHEME 

Please note that as this scheme relies on volunteer drivers it is not normally possible to respond to same day requests.Contact the organiser Mr B Blackmore on Dereham 690207 and let him know your requirements.  Under normal circumstances 48 hours’ notice prior to your intended journey is sufficient time in which to arrange for a car to pick you up.   However, it is always helpful if you advise the organiser as soon as your travel requirements are known and, in addition, any special requirements such as the use of a wheelchair. The organiser is normally available to take telephone bookings between 9.00am - 4.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am – 1pm on Friday, however, from time to time a telephone answer machine will be in operation. Please listen carefully to the message and if you leave your name and telephone number the organiser will ring you back later in order to make the necessary arrangements. 

5.                  FARES PER PERSON     

Fares are payable at the start of the journey where a set fare applies.  Passengers will be charged the rates on the standard journey list, eg:- Dereham                                                           £1.80

Norfolk & Norwich Univ Hospital                        £7.20

BUPA Hospital                                                     £7.20

West Norwich Community Hospital                     £8.00

Kings Lynn Queen Elizabeth Hospital                 £12.60

Cromer Hospital                                                   £13.20

Addenbrooks Hospital                                          £28.60

Papworth Hospital                                                 £32.00

Moorfields Eye Hospital                                       £48.00

Sheringham                                                            £11.40

Fakenham Surgery                                                £6.00

Swaffham Surgery                                                  £6.00

Watton Surgery                                                     £6.00

Wymondham Surgery                                           £6.00

Kellingham Hospital                                             £8.00

Mattishall Surgery                                                 £3.00

North Elmham Surgery                                         £3.00

Longham                                                              £3.00

Swanton Morley                                                   £2.20

Scarning                                                               £2.20 

Return journeys within Dereham  within an hour are charged at minimum fare of £1.80. Any journey not on the standard fare list will be charged at 20p per mile subject to a minimum fare of  £2.00. Children aged between 5 and 16 years old may travel at half price when travelling with an adult, children under 5 years of age may travel free when accompanied by a fare paying adult. All persons under the age of 17  must be accompanied by an adult. 

If you have any queries regarding the scheme please contact Mr B Blackmore, Dereham (01362) 690207 or Dereham Town Council at The Assembly Rooms, Ruthen Place, Dereham, NR19 2TX, telephone Dereham (01362) 693821 

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Dereham Council Information Centre 

Based in Dereham library.  The centre works in partnership or has close links with most public sector and voluntary organisations.  They provide help and information about services offered by Norfolk County Council, local – district or borough council or other local organisations.  Help or information is given on a wide range from Council tax and housing benefits, bus passes, rubbish collection, help with forms, road maintenance.  Adult Education courses, Social Services, Childcare and local community information.  They are also a Police Information Point.  There is a free phone to Breckland District Council. Various surgeries are held in a private room in the library, eg. Disability Rights Norfolk.  The staff pride themselves on the fact that if they cannot solve your enquiry, they will put you in touch with someone who can. To find out the services that they offer, pop into Dereham Library, 59 High Street, Dereham.  The staff are very friendly and there is a room so that you can speak in private if the issues you have are of a sensitive nature. 

Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm

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