THE future of Waverley hoppa Community Transport’s dial-a-ride has been made a little more certain thanks to Waverley Borough Council’s decision to renew its financial commitment to the service.

Waverley has awarded a grant of £108,000 for 2018/19 and similar levels of support are expected for 2019/20 and 2020/21.

The service, which is often described as a ‘lifeline’ by passengers, is used by people who do not have access to other modes of transport.

Customers pre-book their journey and benefit from the peace of mind that comes from knowing the hoppa bus will pick them up from their front door and take them to a pre-arranged destination.

On the return journey, the driver sees passengers safely to their door and carries their shopping bags too.

Steve Forward, general manager at hoppa, said: “The dial-a-ride service puts an end to passengers having to endure the elements as they wait at the bus stop for their bus to arrive. This, and our high level of personal service, makes hoppa the first choice of travel for many of our customers who are mainly older or more vulnerable members of our community.”

Hoppa has a fleet of 30 buses which vary in age and make.

Jim Edwards, Waverley’s portfolio holder for economic and community development, recently visited hoppa and was impressed by the flexibility and features offered by the newer models of bus.

Around 19 per cent of hoppa’s income comes from grants and Waverley provides 66 per cent of this total grant income.