This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The scheme is funded by the Department for Transport, delivered by an organisation called Carplus as part of their Developing Car Clubs in England Programme.
The council submitted a bid for funding last November, outlining the benefits a car club would bring to residents, local business and visitors.
Car clubs provide easy and affordable access to vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The scheme is extremely flexible with members being able to book a car online or by phone, weeks ahead or with just a few minutes’ notice. Hire periods can range from an hour to a weekend.
Flexible hire
Under the proposed scheme, 13 vehicles will be made available for flexible hire at different locations on the Island. Each will be parked in a designated bay, people will simply need to book a car, drive it and return it.
Councillor Luisa Hillard, Executive member for sustainability, environment and public realm, said:
“I am delighted that we have secured the funding to progress this scheme. There are many benefits to a car club – it is convenient, can save people money and reduces our carbon footprint.
“Although the Island has an excellent public transport system and cycle network, there are times when a vehicle can be useful, such as when family visit from the mainland or for shopping trips where there is too much to carry on the bus.
“Car clubs can offer people all the benefits of car ownership without the hassle of repairs, servicing and renewing insurance – and the associated costs. They are also ideal for dense, residential areas where on-street parking is very limited. Research has shown that for people who drive less than 6-8,000 miles per year, a car club could save up to £3,500 annually. Families with two cars may wish to tap into these savings by replacing their second car with car club membership.”
The council hopes to be able to provide more information about the car club in the summer once a tendering process has been completed to select a supplier for the scheme.
