Charity is on road to offer clients more bus services

A BUS service which helps tens of thousands of people in the West Midlands has received a multi-million pound boost.

West Midlands Special Needs Transport (WMSNT) will receive £35 million over the next three years from Centro, the area's integrated transport authority.

The charity provides the Ring and Ride service, which helps more than 70,000 people with limited mobility.

And now it will receive almost £12 million a year to help pay for improvements.

Peter Maggs, chief executive of WMSNT, said: "We are delighted to have reached this arrangement with Centro.

"It provides us with the financial security to make long-term plans for improvements to the quality and quantity of the Ring and Ride service for the benefit of our passengers."

The specially-adapted minibuses will now be given a new computerised system.

That will mean extra journeys and more flexible routes can be booked.

And the service's evening hours will be extended beyond the existing 10pm finish.

The charity is also looking at ways to improve access to work, training and education for younger disabled people.

Centro chairman Councillor Gary Clarke said: "Ring and Ride is a real lifeline for thousands of people in the West Midlands and therefore plays an extremely important role in our region's public transport system.

"We are delighted to see this funding arrangement put in place.

"It will help give WMSNT a good financial foundation on which to further improve the marvellous Ring and Ride service and to meet the challenges of a rising elderly population."

Ring and Ride passengers phone to book their journeys, giving details of where they want to be picked up and taken to, and the time they want to travel.

Demand for the service is expected to grow due to an ageing population.

Predictions say there will be 1.7 million people aged 60 or over in the West Midland by 2029.

That is a rise of 500,000 from present levels.

The funding for WMSNT aims to meet the increased demand and expectations.