PlusBus Gets the Thumbs-up

11.02.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Oct 2007

Lunch clubs for older people are benefiting from a community bus service that is continuing to receive an overwhelming vote of confidence from its users.

MK Plusbus, an initiative funded by Milton Keynes Council (MKC) and run by Age Concern and Ealing Community Transport, helps disabled and frail older people get about the city so they do not become prisoners in their own homes. And now lunch clubs for older people can use the service as well as go on occasional day trips to places such as local garden centres and nearby Northampton. Another innovation to the service is allowing the users to travel further afield, with shopping trips to neighbouring Bedford organised every week.

Plusbus has more than 1600 members and they have been giving their opinion on the service that was relaunched just over a year ago. The results of the survey showed that 92 per cent of users found the service "good" or "excellent'", with the bus drivers getting a 98 per cent rating for customer service.

Liberal Democrat councillor Irene Henderson, cabinet member responsible for adult social care, is delighted that the new service was appreciated by the users. She said: "I am immensely proud of the PlusBus service - it is such a worthwhile project. The Council wholeheartedly supports the way it gives the more vulnerable in our society the opportunity to live much more sociable and independent lives."

To find out more about the Plusbus service, contact Milton Keynes Community Transport on 01908 266950.