The Camelford & District Welfare Mini-bus, known locally as ‘Dorothy’s Bus’, will cease to operate in its current form due to low use and lack of drivers. The service will be taken over by the schools’ minibus.
However, Age Concern has been running their own minibus service for over 50s in the town for many years and are concerned people have got ‘the wrong end of the stick’.
Administrator for the Age Concern minibus, based in Camelford, Cherry Whitehead said: “Some people have been getting the two minibus services mixed up and we want people to know we are still here and will continue to operate as normal.
“The Age Concern minibus has been going for probably more than 20 years I should think, it has been here for a very long time and is still going strong now.”
Ms Whitehead said the Age Concern minibus provides a service to Camelford and the surrounding areas. She said: “We pick people up from Camelford as well as places such as Boscastle, Tintagel, St Teath, Delabole, Crackington Haven, Tresparrett and Marshgate — quite a wide area actually.
“We take people on day trips every week throughout the year and probably have around 14 or 15 trips per month for over 50s. We visit different towns for shopping days or other places of interest and even go to the theatre.
“The service is all run by volunteers and they do an excellent job.”
She said the team worked closely together in 2013 to raise £38,000 in order to buy a new minibus, which came into use by April of 2014. They now hope to be able to change and upgrade the bus some time next year to ensure they can keep up with demand for the service.
Ms Whitehead added: “We just don’t want people to forget we are here, we are still going strong and hope people will continue to use the service we provide.”