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Do you have a car to share in North or West Swindon?
Co-wheels Car Club, the town’s car sharing scheme, is looking for vehicle owners who would be
willing to share their own cars with other members in return for having their running costs covered.
There are currently five pay as you go Matt Whitney, Co-wheels coordina- of the Car Club across
Co-wheel cars in the town, but none tor said the fleet is being expanded Swindon.”
yet in North or West Swindon. Since by inviting owners to be part of the He added that it’s worth
the project launched on 1 February scheme. “We’re welcoming anybody becoming a member of
the vehicles have been well used by with a new’ish vehicle to submit their the car club if you drive
people who have joined the club, as car as a ‘member car.’ under 8,000 miles a year,
well as Swindon Council staff who “The car remains the property of compared with owning and
use the cars on business. the individual, but Co-wheels pays maintaining a vehicle.
The cars are fitted with state of the insurance, maintenance and tax. The To find out more about
art telematics which means they can owner receives a certain amount of sharing your vehicle, mail:
be booked online and then opened at free driving credit per month, yet the [email protected]
the time of booking using a smart card. car becomes available to all members Free membership
to readers
FIAT & ALFA ROMEO Co-wheels is offering free
membership to the car club
✶ All cars welcome via www.co-wheels.org.uk
✶ cam belt replacement When signing on as a new
✶ engine & gearbox repairs & member, quote LINK in the Former Swindon Council leader Rod Bluh launch-
rebuilds promotional code box to ing Co-wheels with Matt Whitney in February
Photo: Richard Wintle www.calxypix.com
qualify.
✶ electrical fault code reading
✶ MOT repairs
✶ vehicle sales Access for all after Mini Plant apprentices
✶ servicing to light commercials Open 8.30am - 5.30pm adapt canal boat for wheelchairs
Call for friendly advice, reliable service & quotes. All major credit & debit cards More people will be able to enjoy a trip on Dragonfly on the restored
OPTIMA MOTORS 39A Station Road, section of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust at Kingshill, thanks to BMW
apprentices training at Mini Plant Swindon.
Tel: (01793) 840667 Wootton Bassett

First on board Dragonfly, Vicki Cornish tries out the ramp and lift installed by
MINI Plant Swindon apprentices. Photo: Richard Wintle www.calyxpix.com
Last year over a thousand passen- in fitting the wheelchair lift. The
gers enjoyed a voyage on Dragonfly, apprentices have done a brilliant job
but not people in wheelchairs. which allows us to welcome wheel-
Funding from the Bruce Wake chair users onto Dragonfly. This is
Charitable Trust, the Herbert & Peter something we have wanted to do ever
Blagrave Charitable Trust, the Med- since we started trips at Kingshill two
lock Charitable Trust, and assistance years ago.”
from The Community Foundation Apprentice Declan Kearns said:
of Wiltshire & Swindon, covered “The project gave us experience of
the cost of purchasing a wheelchair something completely different, from
lift. But the installation could have working out how to fit the lift to the
doubled the cost of the project. boat to the actual installation.”
Help was at hand through a group At the same time canal trust volun-
of apprentices at Mini Plant Swindon teers were able to carry out essential
who took on the challenge as one of maintenance work on Dragonfly
their training projects. whilst she was out of the water in
Kath Hatton, acting chair of the the workshop.
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, said: Dragonfly makes four trips each
“We are most grateful to Mini Plant Sunday. See dates and times and how
Swindon for their generous support to book tickets: www.wbct.org.uk
34 swindonlink.com • May 2013

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