14th August 2006

Car Clubs set to expand in Gloucestershire

Jessica Hodge, the Project Manager for Stroud Valleys Car Club reports: "It's over three years since the first community car sharing club opened in Stroud - Stroud Valleys Community Car Club (www.svccc.co.uk) now has over 40 members using the three cars based near Stroud town centre, and the number of bookings made for the cars seems to increase each month. This is good news for the environment, since research shows that each car club car is replacing around five private cars. And free of the fixed cost burden of car ownership, members can make more rational choices on their journey mode, so they use bikes and buses more, reducing their overall car usage."

The Car Club shares office space with the environmental charity, Stroud Valleys Project, at 8 Threadneedle St, and can be reached on 01453 750348. Jessica and Mike share the part-time job of running the Car Club and are always looking to recruit new members. Membership costs £12/month, and car use £2/hour plus 17p/mile (including fuel). If you are looking to live without a car, or want to get rid of a second car that isn't used much, give them a try.

Car Clubs need capital to expand to other towns in Gloucestershire, so the County Council has been encouraging the District Councils to include funding in Section 106 agreements made for developer contributions towards greener transport schemes. Gloucester City Council already has some funding earmarked, with more in the pipeline, and Cheltenham should follow. Watch out for news of Car Clubs being launched there.