A CASH-strapped charity may have to close its transport service for elderly and disabled people due to £56,000 of funding cuts.

Warrington Community Transport is appealing for help as its Dial-a-Ride service – which last year gave 26,584 passenger journeys to elderly and disabled people in the town – faces closure following three years of reductions in grants from Warrington Borough Council.

Over that time, funding has been gradually reduced from £184,000 to £128,000 due to cuts from central government – which has already resulted in the loss of two of Dial-a-Ride’s minibuses and a reduction in the number of staff.

Established in 1985, the charity is looking for help from business people and organisations to help continue the operation of its fleet of 11 minibuses which provide access to health and social care, employment, education, shopping and recreation.

An insolvency practitioner confirmed there was a ‘strong risk’ to the financial viability of Dial-a-Ride, which will be forced to close unless it can secure funding.

Brian Wilson, general manager of Warrington Community Transport, said: “There is a distinct possibility that Dial-a-Ride could at some point in the near future be considered to be technically insolvent.

“The value of Dial-a-Ride cannot be underestimated – it contributes towards social inclusions of the most vulnerable members of the community.

“It is a preventative service with wide-ranging health and economic benefits for a large range of people.

“Without affordable, accessible and good quality transportation individual users would lose out on the benefits provided by health, social and other services and also the experience of meeting others so reducing social isolation.

“Many of our members are totally dependent upon the service and do not have the support of family members living locally – they are unable to gain access to other forms of public transport.

“We are exploring all avenues possible to try and save the organisation.”