The Bourne Community Bus arrived at Thorney Island Baker Barracks 12th May after having all its graphics and partner logos added. Matt Roberts, CEO of Community Transport Sussex who helped organise the bus lease contracts, delivered the bus and handed over the keys to bus project manager Andrew Kerry-Bedell.
By pure coincidence Jon Robinson was visiting Baker Barracks for a meeting as the bus arrived, so he stopped to have a chat. Jon, together with Tracie and Andrew, was one of the three original founders of the project, so it was great for him to see the Bourne Bus being delivered.
“We’ve been looking forward to getting local transport for Baker Barracks families for years and the Bourne Bus is going to make a massive difference. So many residents don’t have cars, and it’s over four miles to the nearest bus stop, so now they’ll be able to get to local towns and villages for shopping, social and other needs.”
Jon Robinson – Senior Community Development Worker, Army Welfare Service
Matt showed how the wheelchair electric access ramp worked, designed to get disabled passengers on board the bus in just a few minutes. The bus will be kitted out and tested and undergo driver familiarisation over the next few weeks prior to its official launch on the 7th June.