Bishop’s Castle car club
Bishop’s Castle residents and business people are invited to find out about plans for a car club in the town at an event on Saturday 26 May 2012. There is a drop-in session from 4pm-7pm, with a short talk at 6pm. The event is being held at the offices of the Household Energy Service, Church Street, Bishop’s Castle, SY9 5AE (above the pharmacy).
Car clubs provide new, fuel-efficient vehicles which are available to members for personal or business use. Members pay a fee to join and are charged for the journeys they make. It has been calculated that people who drive less than 6,000 miles per year could save up to £3,500 by joining a car club.
Car clubs are running successfully in other parts of the UK, and can help with the problems of parking and congestion. Shropshire members will be able to use any of the cars in the county, and possibly have access to cars in other areas.
Bishop’s Castle is one of three towns (along with Ludlow and Shrewsbury) where the first cars will be available later this year, following a successful bid by Shropshire Council to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The Shropshire Car Club will aim to be self-sustaining and expand to other towns in future.
Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for sustainable transport, said:
“This is a fantastic scheme which I’m sure will get a lot of support from local people. It is hoped that car clubs will solve parking and congestion issues in these towns, as well as allowing people to have access to a car without the high costs associated with individual car ownership.
“Our successful bid to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund last year means that we have the funds available to cover the startup costs of such a scheme and, once established, they will be funded through user charges.”
Charlotte Barnes, Shropshire Councillor for Bishop’s Castle, said:
“I think this is a fantastic idea, especially for those that only need a car every now and then. At a time when the cost of living is rising all the time, to make the savings that are being spoken about seems wonderful.”
More information is available at www.shropshirecarclub.co.uk . People are also invited to complete a short survey to give their views, either online or by completing a paper version which is available in libraries, council offices and other outlets in the towns.
