Transport
Transport Grant: With reference to the 2023 Community Action Plan, we have been looking at other transport options after the loss of our minibus. Of course we can still use the Mid Deeside minibus if it is available to use, but this is dependent on both availability of the minibus and a volunteer driver. I am also pleased to announce that some community groups in the village have taken advantage of the transport grant (up to £100 per event). These grants are available here.
Car Club: We have also been exploring the option of locating a Car Club vehicle in the village for the use by members of the club, both local residents and potentially visitors to the area. There are other community car clubs in Aberdeenshire which operate successfully we therefore decided to undertake a survey to understand the demand for such a facility within the village. Keep a look out on our News page for whether the level of interest justifies going ahead.
Car Sharing: Another initiative we are promoting for as many as possible people is to register with www.liftshare.com. It is an online system of sharing car journeys to and from anywhere, to help save both costs (by agreeing the sharer to pay the driver a modest contribution to fuel costs) and emissions. While use of the bus is more flexible with respect to departure time(s), from Ballater/Crathie there is a limited range of bus destinations. While finding a match for when and where you want to go can be a challenge, registration is free and it does no harm to give it a go both as a driver or as a passenger. For it to be useful, we need as many users as possible! So, checkout the website where details how to register and use of the site is all explained. Its simple!