She may have studied the waves for a living but retired oceanographer Pamela Draper, 91, is now being moved by a different kind of current — thanks to a new charger for her Highland community’s electric bus.
The charging point now installed at the Spar shop in Culbokie on the Black Isle means the battery-powered Wee Ferintosh Bus that shuttles the residents around on-demand can now extend its services into the evenings – and weekends.
It means Pamela, who doesn’t feel confident driving just now due to an ongoing eye problem, can use the Wee Bus to attend evening meetings or society lectures in Dingwall.
Pamela and others in the community say the electric bus has changed how they get about.
Poor public transport provision led to need for community’s electric bus on the Black Isle
The Ferintosh community was poorly served by public transport for years and it even lost a bus service.
But thanks to campaigning by the community council, a solution was found.
They balloted residents who agreed to scrap their Stagecoach’s timetabled bus service in return for the six-seater ‘Wee Bus’ that people book in advance to get around the local area in return for a small donation of around £2.
It has been doing this on weekday hours for the best part of a year.
But now that it has access to the new Culbokie charger, it no longer needs to go to Dingwall to charge overnight.
This means it can now operate on nights and weekends taking people wherever they want in the local area after hours — even to the pub.
Wee Ferintosh Bus driver: ‘Best job on the Black Isle’
The community bus has two paid full-time day drivers salaried by Highland Council under the deal, and volunteers do the pick-ups after hours.
Tony Jankowski, who lives in Culbokie where he’s also a part-time carer in the community, loves being in the driving seat.
Ferintosh Community Council secretary Bruce Morrison said he’s confident that the Wee Bus’s extended hours will boost user numbers.
Spar shop owner happy to give electric bus initiative a boost
Shop owner Rasar Rasathurai said he is glad to offer space in his shop’s car park for the £20,000 charging facility, which was installed by regional transport operator Hitrans this week.
The charger is reserved for the use of the community bus between 4pm and 9.30am, and other electric vehicles can use it outwith these periods.
Rasar said: “I’m really very happy that me and my family are helping the community.
“It’s a great thing to have the bus and we really want to support it.”
Conversation