When looking for a replacement for one of their two minibuses, Pershore Volunteer Centre carried out a thorough sweep of the market resulting in an intensive in-service trial of three makes.

Their conclusion - in the words of manager Kate Walton – was that, “The Optare Alero won hands down and was the best of the bunch!”

As a result, the centre, which uses 150 volunteers to provide a range of community support services in the Worcestershire town and throughout the surrounding area, is now the proud owner of an Alero Plus. Its principal use – and one for which Kate Walton thinks it is ideally suited – is to provide daily transport for people attending a day centre in the town under a contract from the County Council.

“Each day we carry a different group of up to 14 passengers to and from the centre,” explains Kate. “So over the course of a week we move about 70 people around in the Alero. Within that group there is a wide range of different mobility levels, from elderly people who are perhaps not as nimble as they used to be, to clients who are in wheelchairs. The great thing about the Alero is that it’s suitable for each and every one of them and there is no distinction between them in the way they use the bus.

“Previously we’ve operated vehicles with tail-lifts that have often been prone to problems and failures. With Alero’s simple fold-out ramp and the wide side door, it’s quick, safe and easy for people of all levels of mobility to enter or leave the bus and there’s nothing mechanical to go wrong. This is something that our volunteer drivers and escorts really appreciate too, as it makes their job a great deal easier.

“When we were evaluating the market we looked not only at the initial purchase cost of each vehicle, but also took account of issues like maintaining the tail-lift. Of course with Alero that’s something we didn’t have to consider and, although there was a premium to pay in terms of initial purchase cost, we calculated that over time it will prove significantly more cost-effective to run. On top of that, it’s such a smart, modern-looking vehicle that gives off a good image of our organisation.”

The evaluation exercise looked both at the performance of each vehicle and at its suitability for the work for which it was to be used. And whilst the council contract would be its principal use, the vehicle would also be made available at other times for a wide range of other purposes, including providing transport for a local support group for visually impaired people and shopping trips for older people in the community. Local ‘not-for-profit’ music, youth, art and sports groups would also be regular users.

“The Alero was right on both counts,” says Kate. “Its’ easy access, with a very low step height, flat floor and well positioned stanchions and grab handles, make it a particularly good bus for people with reduced mobility. For others, it provides a pleasant and comfortable ambience in which to travel.

“Our 20 or so volunteer drivers have taken to it well following a major training exercise we carried out soon after taking delivery. The automatic gearbox makes it easier to drive and the controls and instruments are well laid out and easy to reach or read.”

At 7.2 metres in length and just 2.0 metres wide, the Alero Plus is a compact vehicle that suits the narrow local country roads. The engine provides a very adequate 92 kW (125 bhp) and there’s plenty of torque at 292 Nm (215 lbs/ft). All round air suspension with a front kneeling capability, ABS, fully-automatic climate control and slide/tilt glazed sun roof units are all standard features of the comprehensive specification of Alero Plus.

For further information please contact:
Martin Hayes, Communications Advisor, +44 (0) 207 494 8050