A thorough sweep of the market along with excellent reliability from Optare’s Solo model led Stockton Borough Council to replace two time-expired models with two new Solos when recently updating part of its welfare vehicle fleet.

Elizabeth Bird, Community Transport Manager at the Council said that Solo had served them very well in the welfare role. “The Solo is ideally suited to our operation and we’ve found the model to be very reliable. With this latest pair we’ve been able to work closely with Optare to meet our precise specification, which includes some features that are probably unique to us.

“For example, our practice is to not only restrain the wheelchair but also to ensure that its occupant is also able to have a personal seat belt, just as the seated passengers have. We have achieved this by fitting Unwin tracking at shoulder height in the lower part of the saloon to which the seat belt can be fixed, as well as the normal tracking along the floor for the wheelchair.

“Optare also proved very helpful in meeting our requirements for additional stanchions and handrails and other features. These include extra handrails at each side of the door and a ‘ceiling guide’ that helps visually impaired people to get easily and safely to their seat. This particular feature resulted directly from consultation with our ‘Blind People’s Voice’ user group.

”Two seats in the lower saloon area were taken out so that we could fit two large storage boxes in which we can safely stow the wheelchair restraints. Tracking is also provided below the windows to enable luggage to be secured when, for example, we are taking passengers to residential homes for respite care.”

At 9.5 metres in length the Solos are perhaps a little longer than most welfare vehicles. However, Elizabeth Bird says that they need this length in order to have sufficient space in the low floor area to accommodate four wheelchairs and to carry up to 15 seated passengers in the raised area.

“Even at this length, our drivers find Solo to be very manoeuvrable and easily able to cope with narrow streets in the urban areas of the Borough where these vehicles predominantly operate. On top of that, its easy accessibility for clients in wheelchairs resulting from Solo’s low entry height and its ability to kneel also make it an excellent vehicle to use for welfare work because of its good kerbside access.”

The Solos were supplied by the specialist municipal vehicle contract hire company Specialist Fleet Services (SFS) of Northampton, who operate in partnership with Stockton BC to provide the majority of the Council’s vehicles. They are on a comprehensive, seven-year contract hire package that includes all servicing, repairs and maintenance, road fund licence, annual MOT and tyres. Most of the maintenance work will be carried out under contract to SFS by Stockton BC’s own vehicle workshop.

“From the Council’s point of view this is an ideal arrangement,” say Bob Sweetland, SFS managing director. “It removes risk and gives them an accurate projection of whole life costs over an agreed period, leaving us to dispose of the vehicle at the end of that time. It also takes the asset off the balance sheet and meets the Local Authority Capital Finance Regulations.”

For further information please contact:

Martin Hayes or David Rowlands, Communications Advisors, +44 (0)20 7494 8050