Finding more environmentally friendly ways to travel around Nottinghamshire

It comes after Nottinghamshire Council secured more funding to continue its Travel Choice scheme, promoting environmentally friendly transport.

The funding will mean the council can continue to promote active travel to more businesses across Nottinghamshire.

It can also continue to provide free ‘Dr Bike’ cycle maintenance sessions for employees at their workplaces, as well as continuing and expanding its work with Jobcentre Plus centres in Ashfield, Mansfield and Worksop, helping jobseekers as they look for work and training opportunities.

The scheme also plans to start working with 10 primary schools in a bid to promote more walking, cycling, and travelling by scooter to school, building on the development of the School Travel Toolkit.

It will also work with 10 health centres in a pilot project to encourage greater use of active travel by patients, by providing electric bike and push bike loans, as well as and Fitbit activity trackers and active travel information packs.

‘Great news’

Coun Neil Clarke, council transport and environment committee chairman, said: “I’m pleased the Travel Choice project is continuing in Nottinghamshire.

“It’s great news for the county and means we can continue helping local people and businesses, by supporting them with more sustainable travel.

"The team have helped reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys in our county, easing traffic congestion and promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly options.

“I’d like to congratulate the team for winning this extra funding.

“It’s a stamp of approval from the Government and a recognition of the good work that the team have been doing.”

The programme has had very positive feedback from residents, employees, and businesses across the county.

Richard Mitchell, chief executive at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Mansfield Community and Sutton’s King’s Mill hospitals, said: “The NHS and social care are busy, pressurised environments to work in and many of us have long commutes to work.

“However, irrespective of the distance, as a large employer I think Travel Choice is a great opportunity to support colleagues with their physical and mental health.”

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