A DIAL-a-ride service which offers a lifeline to residents across South West Surrey has increased its capacity.

Villagers in Chiddingfold, Hambledon and beyond will now be able to take advantage of an extra Godalming Hoppa bus from 9am to 2.45pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, when demand for the service is at its highest.

The door-to-door service picks up passengers from their home and takes them to a pre-booked destinations including supermarkets or the doctors’ surgery.

Waverley Borough Council has provided funding to run the extended service for one year. The £20,000 contribution has come from the council’s Personalisation, Prevention and Partnerships Fund.

The aim of the fund is to support organisations that work in partnership with the council to provide services or projects that support and empower vulnerable adults on a sustainable basis.

Hoppa general manager Steve Forward said: “We are delighted to have been able to extend the Godalming dial-a-ride service and to provide community transport to even more people locally.

“The Godalming service has been operating at capacity during the latter part of the week for some time. This meant some of our passengers regularly found themselves having to alter their plans so they could travel when there was a little more availability.

“We are extremely grateful to Waverley Borough Council for providing us with this year’s worth of funding – it really will help to make a difference to so many people.”

Waverley Mayor Mike Band said: “Hoppa community transport serves as a lifeline for many of our older and more vulnerable residents.

“This door-to-door service means that some of our residents will remain independent for longer and will be prevented from becoming socially isolated.

“By funding this service we are also supporting the local economy as people will now be able to stay in the borough to shop and spend their leisure time. The service is there to be used so I encourage people to please make use of it.”

To use the hoppa service, residents need to register their details. This is free and only needs to be done once. Residents can register online at www.hoppa.org.uk/register or by calling 01428 681701.

The Hoppa bus backed by Waverley Mayor Mike Band, Steve Forward and supporters