A new hopper service has been launched in North Yorkshire to link Langton and the surrounding villages to Norton and Malton, the York Press reported.
Jo Oliver, Totally Socially Locality worker for Ryedale, has been working with Station Taxis to develop the service. Station Taxis, which is based near Malton railway station, will be running a dial-a-ride minibus service from Burythorpe to Malton, with pick-ups in Langton and Birdsall, once a day from Mondays to Fridays. The cost of each journey will be £2.50.
The service utilises a Ford Transit Custom minibus.
Lisa Ridsdale, from Station Taxis, said: “We are excited to be trialling the Langton hopper. If this is successful, there is a real potential to develop the service to cover more areas, including Amotherby and Swinton, the villages along the A64, such as Wintringham, Rillington, West Heslerton and West Lutton, plus further afield to include Slingsby, Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale and Brompton.
“Anyone wanting to book a seat on the hopper just needs to phone us the night before their journey.”
Totally Socially is a project which focuses on supporting individuals and groups at grassroots level to develop projects and activities that meet the needs they have identified in the places that they live.
Jo said: “The need for the hopper service arose following listening to people’s concerns about the continued cuts to public transport out to the villages, which has left many feeling cut off and isolated.
“The service will be launched tomorrow (Thursday) and we hope local people will take advantage of it.”
