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Peterborough transport charity is in financial difficulties
City charity Orton Community Transport Association - better known as Peterborough Dial A Ride - which provides a vital service has been forced to take out an emergency loan after running into financial difficulties.
City charity Orton Community Transport Association - better known as Peterborough Dial A Ride - which provides a vital service has been forced to take out an emergency loan after running into financial difficulties.The charity has been helping elderly and disabled residents in villages around Peterborough to get around for a quarter of a century.
The service drops people from villages into Peterborough city centre, for an annual fee of 5 per person, or 7.50 for a couple, plus normal bus fairs. The Orton Southgate-based charity also serves a number of schools, helping pupils get to classes in rural communities, including Eye, Northborough and Thorney.
But after a number of years making a loss, the charity has been forced to apply for an emergency loan from Peterborough City Council.
Outgoings have risen because a number of the charity's fleet are older vehicles, which cost more to refuel and maintain.
The amount given in the loan has not been revealed, but it is hoped that it will help safeguard the jobs of the 15 staff employed by the charity.
Today, a spokesman for the council said: "A loan is required by the company for an interim period to protect the services being provided to the council and the community benefits that Peterborough Dial A Ride currently provides.
"The organisation is a not-for-profit organisation. The loan gives time for the organisation to reorganise its finances and try to secure some additional funding."
A spokesman for the charity confirmed they had applied for the loan, but final negotiations were still ongoing to finalise the details.
For more information, visit www.peterborough-dial-a-ride.co.uk.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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