The BickWatch Project (EVIE Here4You) came into being thanks to a successful bid that produced a substantial Grant from Somerset County Council Climate Emergency Fund. (Now known as Somerset Council)
This has enabled local volunteers to obtain a wheelchair accessible electric vehicle, provide funds for a solar battery storage unit at Bicknoller Village Hall and funding for a coordinator to organise both the BickWatch vehicle and the Watchet Drives community electric vehicle – a Nissan Leaf which is owned by Watchet Coastal Community Team CIC.
BickWatch is a pilot project initially for two years to demonstrate that Community Transport can be low carbon, thus mitigating climate change and fully sustainable Watchet Town Council, the owners on behalf of the Project Partners, as financial lead are considering ongoing funding themselves of the Projects Coordinator.
Watchet Town Council is the lead parish and has partnered with Bicknoller and Sampford Brett Parish Councils, Watchet Drives and Bicklifts community car schemes. This working together was a key part of achieving the bid which, following the Concept written by David Croxton, Chair of West Somerset Community Car Scheme Partnership was then drafted by an officer from the Community Council of Somerset(CCS). Izzy Silvester, Village Agent CCS and David Croxton, Bicklifts then approached several Parish and Town Councils with presentations to try to build a qualifying partnership. Council active participation was a pre requisite of the Fund.
The vehicle is an all electric Nissan eNV200 (now called EVIE-Here4YOU) converted by Brotherwood in Yeovil, that permits a passenger seated in a wheelchair to be pushed into the back of the vehicle connected to a secure system which then holds them securely. They are further secured in place by being strapped in with a seat belt. This means that they can safely be carried in their wheelchair for their entire journey.
There is currently a removable Covid screen between the back seat passengers (up to three can be carried in addition to one in a wheelchair) and the driver. There is also another screen between the front passenger and the driver. These adaptations are intended to give passengers and driver some protection against air borne viruses.
Drivers have been recruited who are willing to give their time, free of any charge, to fulfil journeys. Income from the journeys goes towards securing the long term sustainability of the project. The coordinator is able to assign the most appropriate vehicle for each journey. Evie has a Section 19 permit requiring passengers to be a member of BickWatch and are required to book journeys at least 48 hours in advance. This is to permit a driver to be assigned and to avoid accusations of competing with taxis. There is now a substantial pool of 16 drivers which has proved valuable in helping
to meet community needs.
There is a fare structure in place for Evie which has four tiers:
Tier 1 is for journeys starting and finishing within the partner parishes and Williton £3
Tier 2 is for journeys to neighbouring parishes £5
Tier 3 is further afield including Minehead £10
Tier 4 is to Bridgwater and Taunton. £16
Any requests beyond these destinations are referred to other local Community Car Schemes offering such services.
In addition, the vehicle has been offered to other Community Car Schemes in West Somerset, preferably for them to provide a driver, and to increase travel access for those in need, in other outlying parishes and communities. Members who have a Concessionary Travel Pass can be carried for a reduced fare and the Coordinator uses TRIPS-2 to reclaim the concession from Somerset Council. Where Evie collects passengers and delivers them to a social event such as community activity, one fare is charged regardless of how many passengers are carried and further grants have been obtained to help underwrite the cost. Further grants are awarded from time to time, to cover, for instance, the cost of transport to some medical appointments that include certain vaccinations. It is also hoped to use Evie to transport disadvantaged young people to Kilve Outdoor Centre and Minehead Eye thus widening the age profile of
community transport.
Evie is therefore owned and insured by Watchet Town Council and the coordinator is employed by Watchet Coastal Community Team CIC. Drivers are given training on how to use the wheelchair system and all are DBS verified. There is a dedicated charging point on the Esplanade in Watchet controlled by an app. Evie can also be charged at Bicknoller Village Hall. The battery at Bicknoller Village Hall will store solar energy for use in charging EVIE. External electricity is also purchased as only Renewable Energy sourced.
The project is managed by the BickWatch Project Group (BPG) which consists of representatives of the five partners and the Village Agent, on behalf of Community Council for Somerset. The BPG is further supported by Nick Margison, Commissioning Transport Manager of Somerset Council.
For further details and information, please contact David Croxton, at localfuel@gmail.com.