JOBSEEKERS who have no means of travelling to work will be able to use scooters, thanks to a new scheme.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has bought 10 Kymco Agility scooters in a bid to help unemployed people apply for jobs they would otherwise have trouble getting to.

The Road to Success scheme will lend the scooters to unemployed people for up to six months if they have secured an offer of a job in a location they are having difficulty getting to.

Funding for the project has been secured for 12 months, during which time 20 people will have the opportunity to access a scooter.

All participants will be provided with safety equipment and are required to attend a scooter safety course.

Mike Jones, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said the scheme was a great opportunity.

“We are delighted to have secured funding from JobCentre Plus for this project,” he said.

“This is a real opportunity to support people to address transport barriers that prevent them from accessing employment.”

Colin Billingsley, external relations manager of JobCentre Plus, said: “Getting to work can be a real problem for many of our customers.

“Providing an alternative of this nature will make a real difference, and we look forward to working in partnership with the council to identify those customers who will benefit most and meet all the eligibility criteria.”

For further information, call Caroline Thomas from the council’s Employment Skills and Learning service on 0151 337 6302.