SIX new minibuses are being bought by Somerset Council following the ‘tremendous success’ of its Slinky service over the past 18 months.

Slinky buses provide digital demand-responsive transport allowing residents to pre-book journeys for shopping, medical appointments, and other trips in areas which are not well-served by public transport.

Wellington is one of the areas which will be served by the new 16-seat wheelchair-accessible diesel minibuses.

The vehicles are being bought with a Government grant to expand the service and allow maintenance on the existing fleet to be carried out with minimal disruption.

Transport operations service manager Lee Jones said: “The new minibuses are configured to enable seats to be folded up when the space is required for wheelchair passengers.

“Using vehicles of this configuration enables the team to respond to wheelchair bookings in the same way as any other booking taken up to one hour before travel.

“Drivers would otherwise have to return to the depot and remove seating, which could potentially result in time delays and bookings not being accepted for wheelchair passengers at short notice, putting these passengers at a disadvantage.

“Furthermore, the arrival of these new vehicles will enhance service delivery due to time off-road for repairs and maintenance.”

The digital Slinky service forms part of the council’s Government-funded ‘bus service improvement plan’, which aims to improve Somerset’s bus services through a mixture of capital and revenue projects.

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “Demand responsive transport is essential in a rural county like Somerset.

“The fantastic success of the service so far is proof that we are providing a lifeline to local people who do not always have easy access to a bus route or car.

“Digital Slinky is a great alternative, reliable, affordable and easy to book.

“Anybody can use it.”