Winchester City Council is inviting car club operators to bid for the chance to start a scheme in Winchester.
Details of how to apply are available at http://bit.ly/2kMAXje
In a bid to help employees and residents in the city centre make better transport choices, and also reduce air pollution in the air quality monitoring zone, a car club is being planned.
This gives signed-up members the chance to hire a car on an hourly basis for local, short journeys. This can be especially useful for business people who need to attend meetings away from their base, without needing to pay for a pool car which is infrequently used.
Cllr Jan Warwick, Portfolio Holder for Environment, is looking forward to driving one of the new vehicles. She said:
“Car clubs are an excellent way of offering more choice of independent transport for people who don’t want to own their own car. They are successful in many cities, and could be a real asset to Winchester city centre. Our job now is to work with the best operator for Winchester’s needs.”
The car club specification calls on operators to make use of ultra low-emission vehicles to further help the positive environmental impacts of the scheme. They can make use of some of Winchester’s existing and planned electric car charging bays across the city. Check online at http://www.winchester.gov.uk/parking/vehicle-parking/ for more information about electric bay locations.
Anyone can sign up to a car club scheme, and Winchester City Council is especially keen to work with the business community to make it fit for employees to use, and reduce reliance on privately owned cars to commute to work. The key to success will be working with partners such as Winchester BID to liaise with the business community.
Catherine Turness, Executive Director of Winchester BID, is keen to see the scheme up and running. She said:
“Winchester BID fully supports a new car club in Winchester. We are ready to work with the right operator and make sure our local businesses understand the benefits of signing up to a car club. The cost to users is important to us, but more than that is the reliability of the vehicles and the quality customer service.”
Bids to run a car club in Winchester should be submitted by 29 March 2017, with details available online at http://bit.ly/2kMAXje For more information contact Kate Cloud, Head of Economy and Arts at kcloud@winchester.gov.uk or telephone 01962 848 563.
