Drivers face five weeks of roads misery
A lifeline charity that helps the elderly is looking to expand its service into Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
Now Shopmobility in East Kilbride has issued an urgent appeal for volunteer drivers.
It is desperately seeking help to ensure this vital service keeps operating smoothly.
EK Shopmobility manager, Lesley Macintyre, said: “The long-established charity, now in its 12th year, gives freedom and independence to people with mobility problems by providing them with transport to and from East Kilbride town centre.
“We would really like to expand into new areas but we are finding it really difficult to recruit volunteer drivers.
“We want to pick up more people from the Cambuslang and Rutherglen areas so they can enjoy the amenities of East Kilbride,” she said.
Shopmobility’s minibus service collects up to 50 regular service users twice a day and drops them home after a day’s shop.
The charity also offers manual, powered wheelchairs and scooters to shoppers for a small fee.
However, as the service becomes more and more popular each year, it is looking to expand and add more routes, so Shopmobility desperately need to recruit several more volunteer drivers.
Ms McIntyre continued: “So many people rely on our minibus service which collects people at home and brings them to the town centre.
“This really helps people who are stuck at home to get out and about independently.
“If anyone who enjoys driving has a few spare hours and would consider driving the bus it would help so many more people.
“There is a real sense of satisfaction with the job, our current drivers get so much out of helping others.”
Volunteer bus driver John Miles said: “I thoroughly enjoy volunteering with Shopmobility.
“It is lovely to be able to help people get out and about and I can see how valued it is by the service users.
“Many of the service users find it difficult to get to the town centre and I am happy to be giving a few hours of my time to help out. I would recommend volunteering with the Shopmobility bus service to anyone.”
Service user Margaret Muir said: “I use the Shopmobility bus service all the time. It is wonderful and I don’t know what I would do without it.”
Edith Duncan, who also uses the service, added: “I have used the bus service for many years. It is the only way I can get my shopping. What a service!”
Anyone who wishes to volunteer should contact 01355 571300 or email lesley@ eastkilbrideshopmobility.co.uk Motorists travelling south f rom Rutherglen and Cambuslang on the M74 can expect five weeks of travel misery when a main route at the Raith Interchange is closed as part of the ongoing roadworks.
Works on the main southbound route between Hamilton and Bothwell will begin on Monday, October 26.
The closure will start at the Raith Interchange on the M74 and continue between the B7071 Bellshill Road from Whistleberry Toll to Bothwell Bridge roundabout.
Drivers coming from Glasgow will have to exit the route early or continue down the junction and exit at Motherwell as a result of the closure.
It comes as part of the major road improvements project to improve congestion on Scotland’s busiest motorways, the M8, the M73 and the M74.
Traffic management means there will be no access to Bothwell or Hamilton from Raith, Junction 5 of the M74 and the A725.