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How to Apply
Who can drive a minibus?
Transport contacts
he Àrainn Shuaineirt Management Committee has been awarded Rural Community Transport funding by the The Highland Council. The funding is made available by the Council and enables us to subsidise transport by any community group based within the catchment area of Àrainn Shuaineirt/Ardnamurchan High School by around 50% of the total cost of the journey. Almost any journey within the UK will be eligible for funding, be it for sports or cultural activities, shopping trips to the city or any other reason provided it is organised by a recognised community group for the benefit of its members.
All requests for transport funding should be made to the Sunart Centre by following this procedure:
How to Apply:
1. Apply for funding by using our FUNDING
APPLICATION FORM and send it to us by post or
(preferably) email to transport@sunartcentre.org
2. When funding is approved we will supply you with a unique ASTI REFERENCE NUMBER to be quoted in all correspondence.
3. You will then be known as the USER GROUP, and it will be up to YOU to make your own transport arrangements with whichever transport provider seems most appropriate/cost effective. You must inform them that you have received funding from Àrainn Shuaineirt by quoting the REFERENCE NUMBER supplied when your Funding Application is approved.
4. YOU as the USER GROUP must keep a record of the number of people who use the transport on the journey.
5. After the journey the transport provider will invoice Àrainn Shuaineirt for the full cost of the transport.
6. Àrainn Shuaineirt will then invoice YOU for your agreed share of the cost of the transport. We will also ask for your record of passenger numbers.
All enquiries and applications for funding should
be made to:
The Sunart Centre, Strontian PH36 4JA
Tel; 01397 709228 Email: transport@sunartcentre.org
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WHO CAN
DRIVE A MINIBUS?
Glossary
A MINIBUS is a vehicle constructed or adapted to
carry more than 8 but less than 17 passengers in addition
to the driver.
"EXISTING" drivers include all those
who passed their DVLA test for car entitlement before
January 1997. These drivers retain significant rights
to drive small buses and lorries, including the use of
trailers over 750kg until their licence expires. On a
licence issued since 1990 and before 1997 these are shown
as B, B+E, C1, C1+E (restriction 7), D1 (restriction 1),
D1+E (restriction 1). The restriction numbers are different
on any licence issued from 1997 onwards. All drivers should
check their own licences, particularly those who have
had to renew them for medical reasons and drivers aged
over 70.
"NEW" drivers are those who pass their
first DVLA test from January 1st 1997 onwards whose entitlement
is much more restricted. On any new licence only B entitlement
will appear. NEW drivers can sit an additional test to
achieve D1 entitlement.
"PCV" (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) and "PSV"
(Public Service Vehicle); PCV/PSV entitlement is the qualification
gained when a further test is passed to drive buses and
coaches.
MiDAS: Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme, organised
by the Community Transport Association (CTA), is a voluntary
driver certification for Community Transport Providers.
MiDAS does not provide or act as a substitute for D1 entitlement
on your driving licence. MiDAS certificates must be renewed
every 4 years
All drivers must be aged 21 or over.
EXISTING drivers (as defined above) can drive minibuses
and receive payment for doing so (subject to licence endorsements
and dependent on the permission of the minibus operator).
NEW drivers (as defined above) can drive minibuses
(subject to licence endorsements and dependent on the
permission of the minibus operator) on the following conditions:
i) the driver has held a full B licence for an aggregate
of at least 2 years
ii) the driver receives no payment or other consideration
for driving the vehicle other than out-of-pocket expenses
iii) the vehicle weighs no more than 3500kg
iv) there is no trailer of any weight attached
v) the driver is aged 21 or over, but under 70 (unless
driver has passed PCV Medical and gained restriction 120)
NB The above is only a brief guide to the regulations
concerning drivers. Vehicle Operators should refer to
the full terms of the Act before authorising any individual
to drive their vehicle.
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RURAL COMMUNITY
TRANSPORT CONTACTS
The following is a list of TRANSPORT PROVIDERS based
within the Àrainn Shuaineirt catchment area.
The list is not guaranteed to be comprehensive, and there
is no reason why other transport providers should not
be used, even if they are based outside the Àrainn
Shuaineirt catchment area.
SHIEL BUSES
The main commercial bus company in our area. Only employees
of Shiel Buses may drive these vehicles.
Contact Karen MacIsaac on 01967 431272, email: shiel.buses@virgin.net
MORVERN COMMUNITY TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
16 seater community bus based in Lochaline. Only drivers
authorised by the Morvern Community Transport Association
can drive these buses. However, the MCTA welcomes new
drivers, and most people are eligible to drive their minibus,
subject to licence restrictions described above under
"WHO CAN DRIVE A MINIBUS?"
Contact Calum Finnigan 01967 421665 or 07748 440090, or
email morvernonthemove@aol.com
KILCHOAN COMMUNITY TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
17 seater minibus based in Kilchoan - no wheelchair access.
Only drivers authorised by the Kilchoan Community Transport
Association can drive these buses. However, the KCTA welcomes
new drivers, and most people are eligible to drive their
minibus, subject to licence restrictions described above
under "WHO CAN DRIVE A MINIBUS?"
Contact David Cash on 01972 510767 email: meallmo@lineone.net
ACHARACLE SOCIAL WORK BUS
9 Passenger minibus with lift and space for 1 wheelchair.
Available only in the evenings and at weekends, and must
be booked during office hours. Drivers must either have
a current MiDAS certificate, have passed a Highland Council
Minibus Test or hold a current PSV/PCV or HGV licence.
Contact Linda Cameron on 01967 431323 email: Linda.Cameron2@highland.gov.uk
STRONTIAN SOCIAL WORK BUS
10-12 Passenger minibus with lift and space for 2 wheelchairs.
Available only in the evenings, and must be booked during
office hours. Drivers must either have a current MiDAS
certificate, have passed a Highland Council Minibus test
or hold a current PSV/PCV or HGV licence.
Contact Catherine MacKellar on 01967 402481, email catherine.mackellar@highland.gov.uk
COMMUNITY EDUCATION MINIBUS (based at Caol Youth
Centre in Fort William)
17 passenger minibus available for hire to community and
youth groups within the Lochaber Area. Drivers must have
a current MiDAS certificate, have passed a Highland Council
Minibus test or hold a current PSV or HGV licence, and
be willing to collect the bus from and deliver back to
Caol.
For more information contact: 01397 700113
GEORGE FOX
Based in Strontian, currently only available for routine
school runs, not for any other uses. If this changes contact
details will be made available.
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
LOCHABER TRANSPORT FORUM
Contact Sheila Fletcher
c/o The Highland Council Roads and Transport Services,
Lochy Bridge Depot, Carr's Corner Industrial Estate, Fort
William, PH33 6TL
Tel: 01349 830 724, email: Sheila@ctauk.org
Website: www.lochabertransport.org.uk
COMMUNITY TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
Website: www.communitytransport.com
CORRAN FERRY TIMETABLES available at http://www.lochabertransport.org.uk/corranferry.html
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