{"id":2310,"date":"2025-08-08T16:37:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T15:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/?p=2310"},"modified":"2025-08-12T16:45:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T15:45:37","slug":"sneak-peek-our-brand-new-community-bus-is-being-built","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/sneak-peek-our-brand-new-community-bus-is-being-built\/","title":{"rendered":"Sneak Peek: Our Brand-New Community Bus is being built!"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Conversion Progress: Summer 2025<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to a generous <strong>\u00a3100,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund<\/strong>, Llanwrtyd Wells Community Transport will soon welcome a bespoke 17-seat minibus into our fleet. Our current Community Bus users are over the moon \u2014 one commented: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201c&#8230;and now we can offer this minibus service to so many other people!\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here\u2019s an exclusive look at what\u2019s coming \u2014 a custom-built Mercedes Sprinter in Arctic White<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In January 2025, we confirmed our order with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmminibus.co.uk\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.gmminibus.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">GM Coachwork Ltd<\/a> for a <strong>Mercedes Sprinter 515CDI<\/strong>. We chose this model, from this company, because of its:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reputation for <strong>quality and reliability<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spacious interior for up to <strong>16 passengers<\/strong> + driver<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Configurable mix of fixed and removable seating with lift for wheelchair passengers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As our supplier put it, \u201cThe Mercedes range gives you a sense of high quality and reliability, which is very important to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Custom Features &amp; Technical Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>GM Coachwork\u2019s conversion will include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Underfloor electric lift <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Removable seating, allowing flexible layouts with space for up to <strong>2 wheelchair users<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fold-out side step with handrails either side for safe boarding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overhead luggage rack and rear storage box to keep the cabin uncluttered<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heavy-duty linings for durability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fully integrated wiring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mercedes factory air-conditioning unit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet GM Coachwork Ltd<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Established in 1988, GM Coachwork are ISO-accredited specialists in minibus conversions and manufacturing. They pioneered the lightweight minibus and work with local authorities, charities, schools, and community transport groups across the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the conversion is progressing : Summer 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On 1 July 2025, we received confirmation that our Sprinter van has been released to GM Coachwork in Newton Abbot. By the end of July, photos show the vehicle stripped back:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wheel arches removed, ready for the flooring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roof-mounted air-conditioning module can be seen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ply linings fixed to lower panels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wiring runs in place, hidden from view<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"267\" class=\"wp-image-2312\" style=\"width: 150px;\" src=\"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/J43844-31.07.25-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Inside the minibus\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It may look bare now, but it should be a rapid transformation into something special. We expect delivery once the conversion wraps up in September 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Next: Keeping Tuesday &amp; Thursday Routes Rolling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Our new bus will slide straight into our existing twice-weekly schedule (Tuesdays &amp; Thursdays) which currently picks you up anywhere you need it nearby to:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Llanwrtyd Wells<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Llangammarch Wells<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cefn Gorwydd<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tirabad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beulah<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Garth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cilmery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Llanfair-ym-Muallt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Newbridge on Wye<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Llanyre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Howey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Llandrindod<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The fares are only \u00a32 return, and the Bus Buddy is there to help you on and off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join Us Onboard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This new vehicle cements our recent successes \u2014 first the <strong><a href=\"\/cy\/rise-of-the-community-bus-one-year-of-service-and-its-going-strong\/\">Social Value Development Fund<\/a><\/strong> grant of \u00a337,639 to get the Community Bus started, and now the <a href=\"\/cy\/funding-secured-for-the-future-of-the-community-bus\/\"><strong>National Lottery<\/strong> award for our own minibus<\/a>. We\u2019re committed to growing this service, reducing isolation, and enhancing people&#8217;s lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To join the waiting list or learn more, call <strong>01982 552727<\/strong> neu <a href=\"\/cy\/contact\/\">anfonwch neges atom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep an eye on <a href=\"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/news\/\">lwct.org.uk\/news<\/a> for delivery day photos.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Conversion Progress: Summer 2025<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,9,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-projects-news","category-community-transport-news","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2310"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2313,"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2310\/revisions\/2313"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwct.org.uk\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}