Updated on the Downland Volunteer Group Handy Bus

​Due to West Berkshire Council's withdrawal of funding for their leased handybuses, the DVG have  decided to accept the existing gifted handybus from them and continue running it themselves.   This is a new venture for the DVG and it will rely a lot on funding to pay for all maintenance, insurance, safety checks etc., in the future.  In the first year possibly two, WBC will give us £2000 to help us in this transition period.   At present our annual costs has been estimated at £5000 a year and it is important economically to make full use of this service to make it viable in the future.
 
We only charge £3 per person for the complete trip and we collect door to door and carry shopping if required.  How does this compare with bus routes, and if you drive in, your petrol and car park charges!!! Passengers enjoy the chat on the routes with renewed acquaintances and meeting friends.  We cover all the villages of the old Downs School catchment area and can take up to 12 passengers of any age at a time. Please pass this on to anyone you think may be interested, either in your area or someone else you know on the routes mentioned below.
 
These are the various days and routes we take as a rough guideline but there is or can be some small diversions to out of the way places.
 
Mondays:
            B4009 and villages in the area to Newbury (weekly)
            First pick up at approximately 9.50am at Hermitage, Curridge, Hampstead Norreys,             Yattendon, Ashampstead, then on to Newbury shopping.
 
Tuesdays:
            Friendship Club at Hampstead Norreys village hall.  (fortnightly)
            Collect at 1200hrs at Chieveley, Beedon.  Return usually 2.45pm
 
            East and West Ilsley, Compton areas (4th Tuesday of the month)
            Starts at 10.15 then via B4009 to London Road Tesco's in Newbury.
 
Wednesdays:
            East and West Ilsley, Compton areas (fortnightly)
            Starts at 10.15 then on to Sainsbury's at Wantage
 
            Yattendon area (fortnightly)
            Starts at 9.30 at Hampstead Norreys, then on to Newbury and Sainsbury's shopping.
 
Thursdays:
            Beedon and Chieveley areas (weekly)
            Starts at 10am at Orchard Park, Beedon, then to Newbury and Sainsbury's shopping.
 
Fridays:
            Chaddleworth and villages on route from Chieveley (fortnightly)
            Starts at 2pm then on to shop at Sainsbury's, Wantage.
 
Kate Bailey has just retired after years of hard work doing this job and I am the new handybus coordinator.  There are three ways you can contact me if you want to enquire or arrange transport.  I have a mobile phone number 07437 543 098, my landline, 01635 578149, or an email: [email protected]. 
 
If in doubt please contact me for further information.
Dave Morris