A PARTNERSHIP scheme is being developed to improve public transport for people in rural areas.

Denbighshire County Council is partnering with the South Denbighshire Community Partnership to relaunch the county’s rural community car scheme.

The community car scheme aims to assist rural residents to access local facilities such as shops, visiting friends and relatives, visiting a doctor or dentist, and to undertake personal business.

The partnership will see the SDCP taking over the operation of the scheme, with impressive plans to see it expand to cover as many rural areas in Denbighshire’s south as possible.

Since its launch in 1979, the scheme has steadily declined in terms of both users and particularly volunteers.

The business plan for the rejuvenated scheme aims to see the re-establishment of volunteers in a much wider area.

READ MORE: Pioneering Ruthin public transport scheme has been launched

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire cabinet lead member for environment and transport, said: “In the last 10 years, the county council has wherever possible improved public transport in rural areas.

"We nevertheless recognise that there will be people who need to travel on journeys that are not easily made by bus.

“Additionally, perhaps because of age, disability or frailty, boarding a bus or minibus for some in our rural communities may be difficult.

"In such circumstances, we wish to see an expansion of the current community car scheme as widely as possible across our rural area.

“We believe working in partnership with the SDCP is the best way of achieving this.”

Margaret Sutherland, chief executive officer at SDCP, added: "We are delighted to be working with Denbighshire County Council on this project.

"It is one of a growing number of initiatives we are delivering in partnership with Denbighshire.

READ MORE: Virgin, BT and Sky broadband customers issued WiFi warning amid soaring energy bills

"This already includes delivering some transport, in the Edeyrnion area.

“We now have a bank of considerable experience from which over the coming months we aim to use to launch the community car scheme over a much wider area.”

Any volunteers who may be able to help should contact the SDCP on 01490 266004 for a chat and ask for Maggie Harding.

Volunteers are partly compensated for their mileage at the current maximum HMRC mileage reimbursement rate.