A POPULAR service transporting patients’ relatives to hospital free of charge has been scrapped because of a cut in funding.

The Hospital Visitor, operated by volunteers on behalf of Community Partners Cheshire, will carry its last passengers to Leighton Hospital, today, Wednesday, after running out of money.

The bus runs at weekends and evenings and is based at Cosgrove Business Park, in Anderton.

Vale Royal Borough Council had previously handed over £15,000 to operate the service but since the new authority – Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) – came into being, that funding has stopped.

The partnership also runs the popular Dial-a-Ride service, however this will still continue.

Caroline Twiggs, who has been chief executive of the group for 19 years, said: “We are devastated because it is such a good service.

“It has become busier and busier and people just cannot get to Leighton to visit their relatives. When the dark nights come in, it is going to make it even more difficult.”

The volunteers have been funding the bus – which covers Northwich and Winsford – out of their own pocket and through small grants since the council changeover but those funds have now dried up.

“I have talked to the people who used to be at Vale Royal but didn’t get a response from anyone. We got £500 from Arthur Neil at Voluntary Action Vale Royal but now that money has gone,” Caroline added.

“It has been costing us around £50 a day, including the administration fees we have to pay.

“We have had quite a few responses in the past saying it was a good service and other saying it was first class. It was a door-to-door service so it was like a taxi for a lot of people.”

Ian Callister, spokesman for CWAC, said: “Funding for the Hospital Visitor Service was provided on a one-off trial basis by the former Vale Royal Borough Council.

“Sadly, usage figures have been so poor that the cost per passenger trip worked out at around £29 for a single journey – unsustainable, both financially and environmentally, when compared with the £2.50 ceiling figure for subsidised public services.

“Cheshire West and Chester Council already funds the successful Dial-a-Ride, Community Car Scheme and Women’s Safe Transport and Rural Rider services in the area. However, there are no funds identified for this scheme.

“Whilst the current figures make the present scheme financially unsustainable, the council would be willing to listen to any viable alternative suggestions from Community Partners Cheshire.”

l What do you think about the service ending? Did you use it? Let us know at northwichguardian.co.uk or by calling the newsdesk on 01606 813620.