COMMUNITY transport provider hoppa has thanked The Farnham Institute Charity for a grant of £2,000 towards its latest project.

Hoppa says the project, to install a vehicle navigation system in its fleet of buses and minibuses, is essential for safeguarding the level of service it provides to its customers and improving its environmental sustainability.

Hoppa still needs more than £6,000 before the project can go ahead.

“Drivers know how helpful reliable satnav is for planning their journeys and reaching their destinations efficiently,” said Steve Forward, general manager of hoppa.

“A vehicle navigation system suitable for our wheelchair-accessible buses driving to multiple destinations will help us cut costs by reducing our journey times - this is good for our customers, the environment and other road users.”

He added: “It’s essential we invest in technology like this to be financially efficient, but that in itself takes money and, as a charity, this is increasingly challenging. I’m very grateful to The Farnham Institute Charity for this generous donation which gives us a good start in reaching our target.”

David Leggett, a trustee of The Farnham Institute Charity, said: “Hoppa is an excellent charity that helps keep local people independent and involved in the Farnham community.

“Without hoppa, many people – particularly elderly residents and people with disabilities – would be unable to get to medical appointments or carry out activities that some of us take for granted, such as going to the shops or seeing friends.

“The hoppa bus picks people up from their home and what’s even better is that after 9.30am the Farnham service is completely free for those who have a valid bus pass.”

Hoppa has given its vehicle navigation project top priority because it has identified that the technology could reduce journey times and, as a result, fuel bills, maintenance bills and insurance premiums.

With a fleet of 25 vehicles that need to be replaced on a rolling basis every four to six years, hoppa expects savings to be significant and predicts the project will pay for itself within three years.

To find out more about the project or to make a donation, visit hoppa.org.uk or call 01428 681701.