Shopmobility branch told to leave Butlins

The holiday company has given the organisation a January 3 deadline to leave. Butlins wants to take on the hiring of mobility scooters and wheelchairs to disabled holidaymakers.

The premises used by Bognor Shopmobility are also among those being demolished to make way for the second hotel to be built in the holiday centre.

But the enforced removal means Bognor Shopmobility's volunteers have the headache of where to put their fleet of 19 mobility scooters and 20 wheelchairs which have been stored in Butlins.

Bognor Shopmobility manager Marian Court said: 'We have been unable to plan this properly as we were given final notice on December 3. The situation is now urgent.

'The chairman of Shopmobility, Barry Spalding, is asking that anybody with storage space, preferably donated, could contact us urgently.'

Butlins has been a busy branch for the town hall-based charity.

Bognor Shopmobility has been sited in Butlins for about five years.

Hirings there were expected to reach a record 10,000 if Bognor Shopmobility had been able to stay in place for a full year.

The last full year saw 9,157 hirings made to holidaymakers until the end of March 2007.

This was almost three times the 3,422 hirings made at Bognor Shopmobility's main office at the rear of Bognor town hall during the same period.

Once before, a few years ago, Butlins has taken over the running of mobility services for its disabled customers. But the company soon asked Bognor Shopmobility to return to the premises because it was unable to provide a better service.

Ms Court said the future focus on the town hall hirings meant Bognor Shopmobility would need more volunteers to assist residents who required help to get around.

'As we will be concentrating more effort on the local customers who use our services to enable them to participate in everyday activities such as shopping, we urgently need some more volunteers who are prepared to give their time from three hours a day,' she stated.

Anyone willing to help by donating storage space or their time should contact Mr Spalding or Ms Court on 01243 830077.