A Car-sharing Club For Caithness?
13th May 2011
Pentland Energy Advice is holding a public meeting about its proposed expansion into car clubs. PEA is keen to gauge the level of public support to put in place a pool of cars for our community.
Working with environmental charity, Carplus, it is envisaged that the Caithness Community Car Club would be a not for profit company, providing a pool of cars that would encourage people to give up second and even main cars in favour or a shared car.
Carplus operates the Developing Car Clubs in Scotland programme with funding from Transport Scotland. It aims to reduce Co2 emissions from transport as well as improving access to services.
Angela Craig of Pentland Energy Advice said, "We recognise that in our rural location some people feel there is no option but to own a car. But others would prefer to use one from time to time and pay for a service. On a long term basis we hope the car club will create a network of cars across Caithness which will allow people access to car travel when that is the best option."
Chas Ball, Chief Executive of Carplus said: "The car club scheme is designed to make travel accessible and affordable as well as reducing harmful emissions. For some people it makes financial sense to reduce car ownership and use other means of travel."
To assess potential take up of this scheme and to determine the best locations for car club cars, PEA needs to hear from residents and employers.
A public meeting, with a presentation by Chas Ball on car clubs in action in other market towns, will be held in Caithness Horizons on Thursday 19th May at 7pm. If you are interested in finding out more about the potential of a community car please come along and support this scheme.
To find out about the benefits of a community car and how you could utilise it, please log onto: www.carplus.org.uk
For more information: Angela Craig (PEA) 01847 896524
Chas Ball (Carplus) 0113 234 9299; 07970 666146
HOW THE SCHEME WOULD WORK:
1.Members pay an annual membership fee - say £60 a year
2.A computerised booking system will be available on line for members to book the car in hourly blocks or for whole days
3.The cars would be kept in convenient locations near where members live or work for members to collect
4.Members are billed by the hour on short trips and by the day + hours on longer trips
5.The car will be kept fully serviced, valeted, have full comprehensive insurance and breakdown recovery
6.Members will be invoiced monthly for their car activity
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