A NEW community electric car transport scheme is starting in Watchet in the New Year.

Volunteer drivers will provide lifts, in a specially provided electric car to elderly or infirm residents around Watchet, to get to the doctors surgery or to any of the various support groups in the town.

Watchet Drives, funded by The National Lottery Fund, and DCMS is the new strand of community support from Watchet Connects, a programme run by Watchet Coastal Community Team.

It is seeking to support residents in Watchet who often miss doctors’ appointments or can’t get to the shops because they suffer with mobility problems.

The scheme has been designed in close consultation with the current community transport providers Watchet and Williton Wheels and hopes to free up their capacity to concentrate on longer journeys outside of Watchet.

Watchet Drives is looking for volunteers who would be happy to give half a day a month to drive short journeys.

Volunteers would be covered under a separate insurance and drive a leased community electric car.

Electric car training will also be provided for volunteers so that they are comfortable driving an e-car.

Village Agent Izzy Silvester said:“We know there are plenty of quite isolated people who live in Watchet and are often unable to leave their house because of either a physical or mental disability.

“Watchet Drives hopes to help those people get the support they need in town, and provide a friendly face to chat to.”

The team are working closely with the Council towards installing an electric car charging point in the town.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver, contact Georgie Grant at georgie@watchetconnects.com.