Car club to help cut Winchester’s carbon footprint

Winchester City Council and Enterprise Car Club has launched a new car club, for businesses and residents in the city.

At the launch, at Winchester Guildhall, local businesses and residents were given the opportunity to experience one of Enterprise’s new low emission hybrid cars and to sign up to the car club for free.

The car club enables self-service access to a car at any time without the hassle and expense of car ownership, says Enterprise. It will also help to reduce the number of privately owned vehicles coming into the city reducing emissions, improving air quality and encouraging use of public transport.

Vehicles can be booked for as little as 15 minutes for local errands or for hours and even days when needed and will be available 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Car clubs also offer benefits for businesses and employers who need to travel as part of their work, says Enterprise.

Vehicles will be available at the following locations in Winchester city centre: Friarsgate, Middle Brook Street and Jewry Street car parks as well as at Enterprise’s offices at Winchester Railway Station.

Winchester City Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, Cllr Jan Warwick, said: “The council is delighted to offer Enterprise free use of three parking spaces in city council car parks for Winchester’s new car club.

“The car club is one of the many actions in the City Council’s new air quality action plan. Other actions include encouraging greater use of out of centre parking, the installation of electric vehicle charging points in city centre car parks and introducing ultra-low emission vehicles for our own fleet.”

Enterprise, which has a regional office in Winnall and employs 65 in the city, will provide Winchester’s businesses and residents access to its vehicles every day of the year. The company already operates car clubs across more than 23 cities nationwide.

Dan Gursel, managing director of Enterprise Car Club, said: “We are very excited about opening the new car club scheme in Winchester. It provides a great platform to continue to expand our offering of connected mobility in this area. Enterprise Car Club is also available in Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

“We want to provide a completely joined-up vehicle service to bring more choice to people living, working and travelling in and out of Winchester, whether they need a car for an hour or over several days.

“It takes only a short time to join, book a vehicle and be on the road. Plus, anyone needing more assistance can just pop into the branch which is conveniently located at the station.”

Photo, from left to right: Ken Macartney, chair of Winchester Business Improvement District Board; Gemma Dickson, business rental sales manager, Enterprise Car Club; Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandlers Ford; and Cllr Janet Warwick, Winchester City Council’s portfolio holder for environment, at the launch of Winchester Car Club.