VOLUNTARY groups and charities in the Malvern Hills district can now take advantage of a project to provide them with cheap transport.

A vehicle sharing scheme has been launched to allow voluntary groups' minibuses which are not used every day to be put at the disposal of other organisations who do not have transport.

"Many voluntary groups cannot afford to pay the extortionate fees charged by commercial vehicle hire companies," said the scheme's promoter Gareth Blackett.

"Also, many minibuses owned by voluntary groups are not used most of the time, so the idea is to allow others beside the owners to use them.

"There are two benefits to this. The first is that the group hiring the vehicle get it much cheaper than they would otherwise have done, and the second is that the owners get a contribution towards the cost of maintenance or replacement of their vehicle.

"The eventual goal is to try and stop voluntary organisations buying new vehicles when they don't have one. There are enough vehicles on the road already in this area."

His post, that of vehicle sharing officer, was set up in January after lobbying from Ann Sowton and Grenville Sheringham, Rural Transport Partnership officers in Wychavon and Malvern Hills respectively.

The scheme, which is jointly funded by Wychavon District Council, Worcestershire County Council and the Countryside Agency, is set to run until January 2003, but Mr Blackett is hoping it will be extended.

Two vehicles are already signed up, and Mr Blackett urged voluntary groups in need of transport to get in touch with him.

"I am hoping that in the run-up to Christmas we can get people using the scheme to organise shopping trips," he said.

"We have several vehicles at our disposal already, including ones equipped with tail-lifts for people in wheelchairs."

A seminar on the scheme is taking place at Priory Lodge Hall, Avenue Road, Malvern on November 26 at 4.30pm, and Mr Blackett can be contacted on 01905 799029.