Community Transport Sussex (CT Sussex) has launched its innovative Electric Community Car Club in Henfield.
This fantastic project will provide disabled people with access to shared transport and enable residents to access affordable hire cars, reduce the need for second cars and help the environment. The Club will be community-run, owned, and used as a valuable resource as volunteers and a local steering group will be recruited to run the service.
The initiative is funded by Motability, the national disability charity, as part of a pilot car club initiative. The aim of the project is to provide those with disabilities, in rural and semi-rural communities, with access to affordable shared transport, which will allow them to access services and social activities independently and improve their general wellbeing. All the cars are adapted for those with limited mobility and an electric wheelchair accessible vehicle will be available if required. At all other times, the vehicles will be available for the rest of the community to hire, creating a transformational, accessible asset for the whole village.
The initiative is enthusiastically supported by much-loved actors Sue Jameson, James Bolam and Yvonne Edgell who launched the Club at the community event, 'Get Involved in Henfield' on Saturday 24 June, which promoted the importance of volunteering for local charities and helped local people find a club or group to suit their interests.
Across West Sussex there are an estimated 600 cars per 1,000 people. That translates to 3,300 cars in Henfield. It is estimated 29% of households have two or more cars, so reducing second car ownership is an important goal of the Club. It will complement the environmental and carbon reduction ambitions of the Parish Council and community. With the average cost of running a car in the UK being more than £3,500, it is hoped that the club will fast become a convenient, easy, and cost-effective method of transportation.
Actor, James Bolan said: "Good luck Henfield – this can only be a good thing for everyone as well as for the environment. Make sure you tell friends and family about it and sign up!". And Actor Sue Jameson added: "Well done CT Sussex on this creative and innovative idea. We hope you will enjoy the opportunities this Club affords to help your wonderful village become even less polluted and to bring people together. Let’s hope more positive community projects are launched in the future which do so much to promote accessible transport for people with disabilities.’’
Lee Gardener of CT Sussex said, "CT Sussex is excitedly looking forward to seeing how the Community Club will thrive and grow in meeting the needs of the local community. A huge thank you to Motability for providing funding this initiative, which will support disabled people to make journeys locally in electric vehicles. We have huge ambitions to launch similar Clubs across the county so that other communities can benefit from such a scheme’’.
Marie Claire Macintosh
Details:
Monthly Registration Fee £5.00, or for two from the same household £9.00 per month
Vehicle Hire Charge £5.00 per hour up to 9 hours, over 9 hours it will be £45.00 per day,
24-hour charge is £45.00.
Cars can be hired for personal journeys.
Vehicles can assist any resident or visitor to the village, who cannot drive themselves.
Members can hire the cars for their own use.
Working closely with Henfield Parish Council, WSCC and Connected Kerb - charge points will be installed in convenient places in the village and use existing points where possible.