Wheels to Work scheme launched to help Swansea residents

A SWANSEA nurse has signed up to a council-led scooter borrowing scheme in the city to help her get to and from her hospital job.

Late night and early morning shifts mean that Leah Bennett, from Treboeth, can have problems using public transport to get to work at Morriston Hospital. So the 22-year-old A&E nurse is one of the first to sign up to the new Swansea Wheels to Work community transport scheme that Swansea Council has rolled out.

The scheme has been launched in a bid to provide vital transport for workers in Swansea who either don’t have their own transport or find it difficult to use public transport services.

The council has purchased six scooters, thanks to Welsh Government funding and financial support from Unilever.

Those who sign up for the scheme pay a weekly fee to hire the scooter. The fee also covers tax, insurance and maintenance of the scooter, as well as some training which is provided by the council’s road safety team.

Cllr David Hopkins, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, joined Edwina Hart AM, the Welsh Government’s Transport Minister, to launch the scheme.

Cllr Hopkins said: “This is a fantastic scheme that helps support people who are having difficulties using existing transport methods to either get to work or attend training courses.

“Community transport is about being innovative and looking at the needs of a wide cross section of residents. Some people can use public transport quite easily because there are good links to where they live or they generally only require transport in the day.

“But shift workers and others who have slightly more complex travel requirements can benefit from innovative schemes such as Wheels to Work.

“I’m delighted we can support this and help make some people’s working lives a little easier.”

Leah said: “I joined the scheme because I had just moved back home from Bournemouth and was struggling to get to my job in A&E early in the morning. The scheme allowed me to access transport quickly and easily, which meant I could start work straight away.

“The scooter has really benefitted me as it means I have a lot more independence and flexibility and am able to park very easily in the busy hospital car park.

“I would recommend this scheme to anyone who is struggling to get to work – it’s accessible, the staff are extremely helpful and the scooter is fantastic.”