Thursday 22 September is World Car Free Day, with motorists around the world being encouraged to leave their cars at home for the day.
Waverley Borough Council has made a commitment to become a net-zero carbon borough by 2030 and has encouraged officers and councillors to use alternative forms of transport on the day unless they use an emission free vehicle.
Councillor Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said:
“We hope that Waverley residents embrace World Car Free Day and, where possible, leave their car at home and use an alternative form of transport. Can you walk or cycle to school or work perhaps or take public transport? Of course, it’s not just about the one day, it’s about making small changes every day to help protect our environment and, as a council, we are striving to ensure the right infrastructure is in place to offer better public transport, cycling and walking routes in the borough.
“Thanks to the dedicated work of our sustainability team at Waverley, working in partnership with Godalming Town Council and Surrey County Council, we are at last seeing the Guildford to Godalming Greenway project beginning to come to fruition. We are currently working with a team of consultants to develop further proposals for walking and cycling networks across the borough, and are pushing for better public transport across Waverley. In addition, as part of the council’s drive to promote active travel, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, four new bike shelters have recently been installed in council-owned car parks across the borough with the hope that it will encourage more of our residents to get on their bike.”
The shelters have been sited in convenient locations across the borough including one at Haslemere High Street car park, two at Crown Court car park in Godalming and one at Village Way, Cranleigh. If this pilot scheme is successful, others will be rolled out across the borough.
The council is also taking part in a major Surrey trial for on-street electrical vehicle (EV) charging points in three towns across Waverley. It means drivers using EVs can now use 10 EV charging points in car parks in Waverley including 3 in Farnham. Another 9 twin 22kw chargers are due to be installed in the new Brightwell's car park in Farnham as well as further charging points in other car parks in Farnham. “
In Surrey, the County Council’s Greener Futures programme is encouraging everyone to travel around Surrey in a way that is good for the environment through their link up with BetterPoints. With the BetterPoints App (BetterPoints - Surrey's Greener Future) Surrey residents can earn rewards as a digital currency that can be spent at participating local businesses, redeemed for high street vouchers, or donated to charity
To view Waverley Borough Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Neutrality Action Plan, visit https://www.waverley.gov.uk/climatechangestrategy