Charity status was gained with the aim of it always being to improve quality of life and reduce social isolation through the provision of transport.
The Community Car Service using drivers with their own vehicles was started, and volunteers were recruited, one of which still volunteers with us in 2023. It is now thought to be the largest of its type in Wiltshire.
A computer program was developed (Driveway) to manage the car service bookings and providing statistics for potential funders.
A minibus was purchased with a National Lottery Grant to start shopper services from outlying communities into Salisbury. The first ones being from Downton and Amesbury.
Agreement was gained from Wiltshire Council to claim concessionary fares on all our buses for those eligible.
Wiltshire Council approached us to run the Wyle valley Boomerang Service linking villages in the Wyle valley to other bus services, which was done under contract.
This was followed by a request from Wiltshire County Council to run a demand responsive service in the Bourne and Avon valleys as part of their Connect to Wiltshire services in conjunction with school transport in the Pewsey Vale. We did this for several years.
Wiltshire became a Unitary Authority leading to the disbanding of Salisbury District, so the charity became Community Transport South Wiltshire.
With the building of Solstice Park in Amesbury there was a need to set up green transport connecting with the bus services in the town centre so the Workers to Work service was started in collaboration with Solstice Park – a first for a development company and a local charity supporting the community directly. A new bus was purchased which served the service morning and evening and was available for community use at other times.
The Amesbury Hoppa was launched incorporating the Workers to Work service, as part of the planning agreement with Tesco, with them providing £500k over 5 years to purchase a bus, set up and run the service.
We took control of purchasing and maintaining a suitable low floor bus, naming the service, finalising the route and its timings and recruiting drivers. In our negotiations with Tesco we ensured that the service served all community services and linked the new developing Archers Gate community with the existing town and Solstice Park. This was an instant success with usage exceeding expectations. The first bus hit the road at 9:30am on the3rd March.
A ticketer machine was placed on the Hoppa bus to record payments and give tickets.