A RURAL transport scheme which puts people on the road to employment launched at Newport Links Golf Club on Friday, April 4.

Green Dragon Bus, which is behind other successful services such as Pembrokeshire Town Rider services and the Cardi Bach, is loaning 125cc scooters to individuals who haven’t got any, and cannot access any means of transport to get to work.

The not-for-profit project is already getting people to work in rural west Wales.

Caroline Wilson said: “Sgwt is a brand new scheme for Pembrokeshire. We’ve not had one in the county before, and I hear it’s the only one in Wales.

“We have 10 bikes at the moment, and people who sign up with us have to go through an interview process, telling us why they need a bike. If they haven’t done any training, we provide them with a CBT.

“We also provide all the safety gear and people pay a £250 deposit which is returnable at the end of their contract. The contract is initially for six months, and after they can extend it if the need is there.

“The idea is that they start having an income and save money to go towards buying their own scooter or car.

“The scheme is open to anyone aged 16 to 116. If you need to get to work and transport is your problem, then we should be able to help you.”

The project has received funding from the South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium, which includes Pembrokeshire County Council and the Clydau Connections Project - which is a Welsh Government Deep Rural Funding Project.

Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson was at the launch. She said: “I think it’s fantastic. We’ve done enquiries into road transport and time after time, the one thing we’re hearing about barriers to work or training is the lack of transport.

“Young people simply can’t afford to buy their own, and their parents can’t be expected to drive them around.

“This scheme gives people real opportunities to be who they want to be, and that’s the important thing."

Chris Iles from Pembrokeshire Youth Services said: “We work with young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training, and we’re looking at ways of removing barriers to employment.

“Obviously being in Pembrokeshire it’s difficult without public transport. We had a young person who had been offered a job at Newgale YMCA, but because he lived in Fishguard and couldn’t get there, he had to turn it down. This scooter scheme would have been ideal for him.”

For more information about Green Dragon Bus contact admin@greendragonbus.co.uk or call 01239 698 506.