EFFORTS by the council to allay fears about the future of Dial-A-Ride didn’t stop dozens of its users turning out for an extraordinary general meeting on Friday.

The meeting was held amid fears the service may be reduced to unrecognisable levels when a new contract with the council is agreed at the end of the month.

People came from across Swindon, in wheelchairs, with walking frames, on mobility scooters – most travelled aboard the service's buses as it is the only way they can get around.

Packed into the Park South Community Centre, they heard a tale of confusion and concern from the team at the helm of Dial-A-Ride who have been negotiating their future funding with Swindon Borough Council.

The meeting heard from the director, Evelyn Ryder, who explained that the Dial-A-Ride service was provided on a three year contract which will come to an end in just two weeks’ time.

In the contract is the provision that the borough can extend for a period of two years, it appears that the council wish to make us of that provision but not on the same terms and certainly not with the same funding level.

“We, perhaps naively, thought that if the council were going to make any big changes to the contract – such as a £100,000 cut – they would re-tender it,” said Evelyn.

Instead the parties appear to be in a discussion about a new deal with the council not knowing yet how much they are willing to spend and Dial-A-Ride not knowing what services they will be asked to provide.

It emerged recently that the £100,000 year saving to the Dial-A-Ride budget was only ever a part year saving and that the full reduction could be significantly more.

Laying out what the future service may look like with such reductions, Evelyn said: “If we lost £100,000 over a full year that would be a 32 per cent cut.

“We would have to stop Saturday services and substantially reduce or stop the service before 9.30am or after 4.30pm on other days.

“We would also have to increase fares by 40 per cent and reduce the number of buses on the road.”

If the part year saving was extrapolated to give a figure over 12 months, the Dial-A-Ride team believe it could be in the region of £171,000 which would be a cut of 55 per cent.

“We’re not sure whether we could continue to operate with that size of cut,” Evelyn told the meeting.

When the floor was turned over to the service users their concern was palpable.

Jenny Clark, 65, from Walcot, spoke passionately about the difference the service makes to her.

“Dial-A-Ride gave me my independence,” she said.

“I couldn’t get out without it, I was a prisoner in my home – it was the happiest moment of my life when I got on that bus.

“Please don’t take it away from us.”

Helen Jackson appeared to be on the verge of tears as she pleaded with her fellow bus users to fight for the service.

She has started a petition on the Change.org website which has already gained hundreds of signatures – it will require 1,500 to secure a debate in front of the full council.

Many of those present at the meeting are expected to make the journey to Wharf Green on Saturday where they will be collecting more signatures and trying to generate support from the people of Swindon.

Despite the concerns of the Dial-a-Ride management team and their users, the council have again sought to reassure them as to the future of the service.

Dale Heenan, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Swindon Council has proposed in writing a number of suggestions for Dial a ride to consider so it can operate with reduced financial support. Three of these proposals could easily address a reduction of £100,000 with no impact on passengers or volunteers.

“For example, I am keen to see a new pilot scheme happen involving two mini buses being used for Council Education transport services such as taking Children with Special Education Needs to and from School. New income for Dial a ride, and if the pilot is successful then Dial a ride would be in a position to bid for up to £1.5m of social care and education transport contracts in 2018.

“This is a very emotive subject but if anyone is told closure is on the cards or hears exaggerated claims then they should reply saying ‘No that’s wrong. We need to avoid fear and alarm among the vulnerable, Dial-a-ride users and volunteers’.

“Swindon Dial A Ride and Swindon Council are still in discussions so it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage. I sincerely hope a new mutual contract can be agreed over the next two weeks.”