This August, Mellor has delivered two Fiat Single Step Entry Coachbuilt vehicles in metallic silver into Cheshire West and Chester Council to add to their accessible fleet.  One of the vehicles is working for Passenger Fleet Services for Adult and Elderly Day-Care. The second vehicle is a 24/7 multi-use bus operating between the same Day-Care Passenger Services and a shuttle service which is managed by Cheshire Community Transport.

This is the first vehicle of this type that Mellor Coachcraft has built, featuring a power operated TWIN leaf glider door making it accessible for a wheelchair at the drivers near side entrance rather than at the rear doors. A manually deployed fold out ramp which folds flush with the floor when not in use increases the vehicles ease of use.

The original cab front is retained, as roof and side panels are color impregnated GRP panels. Other features include modesty panel behind driver with night blind, LED interior and exterior lights, reverse warning bleeper, Eberspacher heating, bonded grey tinted saloon windows, fluid spill kit and hand sanitizer at near side front entrance and a spare wheel mounted behind the driver.

12 passenger seats to include 4 tip-n-fold and can accommodate 4 wheelchair positions. Cant rail tracking was also chosen for as a preferred method of restraining wheelchairs.

Cheshire West operates 38 vehicles on passenger fleet, all coachbuilt and 6 minibuses. Their standard livery is white, but in an attempt to look more mainstream they have had special dispensation for their colour change.  They are also involved in a program to help local schools buy their vehicles.

Lisa Rimmer, the Operations manager for Cheshire West recommends Mellor Coachcraft because of the longevity of their products and damage limitations, the products suits a lot of the work they do and they have a long standing history of good experiences with Mellor. “The product that ticks all the boxes is Mellor” said Lisa. The council are hoping to buy more vehicles next year.