Pay-as-you-go car club launches in Newbury

Cars available to rent by the hour from various town centre locations

A NEW pay-as-you-go ‘car club’ has officially launched in Newbury.

The scheme, by which people rent cars by the hour from a council-appointed provider, aims to reduce congestion and pollution in the town.

It is costing £91,000 to implement, funded through a £50,000 grant from the Government Department for Transport and £41,000 in developer contributions.

The cars will be available at designated locations across the town, the first three from Eight Bells car park, Oddfellows Road, and West Street. Two additional vehicles will be available from the Kennet Shopping centre and Boundary Road.

West Berkshire Council said that for drivers doing less than 6,000 miles a year it can be cheaper to join a car club than own a car, as you only pay when you drive and don’t have to worry about insurance, MOT and servicing costs.

The first three cars arrived at the end of January, with two more – including a fully-electric Renault Zoe – launched this month.

Membership of the club costs a one-off joining fee of £25, and a monthly minimum spend of £5. Cars can be booked for any amount of time, from just 30 minutes to several days.

In a leaflet on the scheme, published by West Berkshire Council, it says: “Members typically drive fewer miles than car owners, which in turn could help to reduce congestion and improve air quality on local roads in Newbury, as well as reducing levels of locally-produced carbon emissions. Major new developments, such as the Newbury Racecourse, include (or will be required to include) provision of a car club.

“It therefore makes sense for the council to work with the racecourse, and other developers in the future, to establish a car club that will benefit the whole of Newbury.”

Members of the club will be able to book a vehicle online or by phone, with as little as one minute’s notice.

They will be given a smart card which opens the car when they arrive for their booking.

The council said that the typical cost of borrowing a car is about £4.50 per hour, plus 21p per mile driven.

This includes all fuel, insurance, tax, MOT, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and cleaning.

Discounted daily and weekend rates are also available and a fuel card is provided in case members need to refuel, with the car club provider picking up the bill.

Three of the vehicles will be utilised by West Berkshire Council during working hours to help promote the scheme.

Last year the council sent out ‘travel plans’ to thousands of residents in south Newbury, offering them incentives for ditching their cars in favour of public transport.

To find out more about the scheme and to claim £20 free driving credit, visit www.co-wheels.org.uk/ newbury