BLESSINGS were bestowed upon Ashburton’s latest tool in the fight against coronavirus last week – a London black cab!

A divine nod of approval was given during a ceremony in the car park of St Andrew’s Church, Ashburton.

The taxi was purchased to aid the community effort to transport residents in Ashburton and Buckfastleigh during the coronavirus lock-down.

Anyone needing to attend medical appointments can request a ride in the ‘corona-cab’.

Volunteers at Ashburton Community Covid Response Team also want to assist key-workers if they have difficulties with transport.

A black cab serves as the perfect vehicle for transporting people while reducing transmission of the virus. An inner shield divides passengers from the driver, and the vehicle has been deep cleaned in between each trip.

A community effort by Ashburton and Buckfastleigh has seen 240 volunteers come forward. A community led helpline is now receiving between 80 and 90 calls per day. A range of support services are in place from shopping runs, to social calls with five phone lines being available around the clock.

The cab was purchased from a private seller in Newton Abbot for under £500. The taxi was serviced by a local garage as well as having its paint work refreshed by a volunteer sprayer and was professionally valeted and deep-cleaned.

Ashburton district councillor, Sarah Parker-Khan, said: ‘The idea of buying a black cab was mentioned a couple of weeks ago. We were looking for taxis for sale online but most of them were in the London area. We were thrilled to a black cab for sale in Newton Abbot so we went for it.’

The cab is to be named by the community in an online poll, with the current leader being ‘Ash-leigh’ which incorporates the names of the two towns the taxi will serve.

Cllr Parker-Khan added: ‘I was worried that Cabby-Mc-Cabface would win the poll, luckily, we seem to have dodged that one.’

The fire service have shared their decontamination procedures, so the taxi will be thoroughly cleaned between each journey. Mike Lowry, an Ashburton taxi driver, is training and overseeing a team of volunteer drivers.

Bishop Mark Rylands, who is Priest-In-Charge of the Ashburton and Moorland Mission Community, said: ‘The Ashburton Community Covid Response Team, which I am part of, is trying to work out how to offer practical support to the community at this very difficult time.’

‘St Andrew’s Church hall is being used as an emergency food bank hub, but it also has a car park so this is where the cab will set off from.

‘Coming up to Easter and Maundy Thursday we think of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.

‘He calls them his friends and says ‘you must love one another as I have loved you.’

Ashburton Community Covid Response Team has launched a new phone helpline for anyone needing assistance. The number is 01364 255919.