A NOVEL partnership between a village minibus scheme, a brewery and a community interest company is hoping to introduce an experimental late Saturday night bus service linking pubs and eateries in the Yorkshire Dales with Ilkley.

The Wharfedale Packhorse minibus service is being promoted by Ilkley-based Wharfedale Brewery, promoters of the popular AlesWay, the Grassington Hub, and the Yorkshire Dales Society’s Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company, which manages the Sunday DalesBus network.

If enough funds and volunteer drivers are found, the scheme will charter the new Grassington Hub community minibus, and collect pre-booked clients off the last Pride of the Dales buses from Ilkley and Skipton that arrive in Grassington at around 7.15pm, and take them to a choice of local participating pubs and restaurants in Upper Wharfedale as far as Kettlewell, Buckden, and even, if required, Hubberholme or Appletreewick.

Clients will be picked up after their meal and taken back to Skipton or Ilkley, if required getting people back in time for the last train - departing 11.20pm, back to Guiseley and Leeds.

The Wharfedale Packhorse will then travel to Skipton Railway Station in time to collect anyone from the Grassington area who has been to a theatre or concert in Leeds or Bradford and bring them back into Upper Wharfedale, dropping them if possible close to home.

Marketing Director of the Wharfedale Brewery, Jonathan Shepherd, said: "Operating a service like this for local residents and visitors means that people can enjoy a glass of wine or a pint of beer with their meal without having to risk driving home late at night."

And Colin Speakman of the Dales & Bowland CIC added: “This is about supporting local businesses in the Dales by bringing customers and helping Dales people by providing a late night transport service to enable them to have a night out either in Upper Wharfedale or enjoy a show in Leeds”.

It is hoped to start the scheme in mid February next year, to allow for driver training and planning.

Organisers are confident that sufficient funds can be raised by participants and a range of fund- raising activities to cover costs and also support the new Grassington minibus, not only for the proposed experimental evening service, but for its other day time local travel provision for Upper Wharfedale residents

However the scheme can only operate if enough volunteer drivers can be recruited either from Upper Wharfedale itself, or from the Skipton and Ilkley areas, to drive the 14 seater bus.

A pool of six to eight drivers is required, who are prepared to provide the late evening service perhaps on a once a month basis. Drivers will be given free MIDAS training to drive a minibus by the Grassington Hub in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council.

Anyone who is willing to help (he or she must be under 70 years of age) should contact Ann Wild at the Grassington Hub office – telephonbe (01756) 752222 or e-mail ann@grassingtonhub.org.uk.