Welwyn Hatfield liftshare could save you cash

WANT to lower your costs of parking and petrol on your daily commute? Well car sharing could be the answer for you. Last year nearly 2,000 people joined www.hertsliftshare.org, set up by

WANT to lower your costs of parking and petrol on your daily commute?

Well car sharing could be the answer for you.

Last year nearly 2,000 people joined www.hertsliftshare.org, set up by Herts County Council.

And this year the council is hoping to attract even more workers.

These include Andy Small, Laura Duggan and Celine Maimaran at Veolia Water Three Valleys, in Hatfield.

The colleagues team up every day to travel to their workplace in Tamblin Way.

The trio travel up from East Finchley and Holloway, in North London.

Andy said: "I can only see positives so far, it's going really well.

"The benefits in us sharing are that it cuts the cost down on petrol to just a few pounds a week and the wear and tear on your car.

"It's also quite stressful driving back and forth to work every day so it takes the weight off your shoulders.

"We're also doing our small part in lowering traffic on the road."

Laura agreed. She said: "It is working really well.

"I do most of the driving as I live in Holloway and I pick the other two up en-route, but it's really helped cut down the price of petrol and running costs.

"At first you worry that these things might not work but we've found it really good."

The Hertsliftshare website is aimed at local businesses that may have concerns over parking or congestion, or are looking to develop their own green travel plans.

So far there are 66 businesses in Welwyn Hatfield using the liftshare system

And county councillor Stuart Pile, executive member for highways and transport, is hoping that this can only increase.

"The need to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles on our roads to help tackle congestion, parking problems and environmental damage has long been recognised, and the county council has been working steadily for many years to try and encourage people to sign up to the idea of car sharing."

He added: "While it does take time to change attitudes to personal travel, the signs are that many people are keen to try sharing if they can.

"Now, thanks to initiatives like Hertsliftshare, we can help make it much easier for people to match up in a more systematic way than has been possible in the past."

Anyone wanting to join the scheme can visit www.hertsliftshare.org and sign up online.

Members of staff from the various companies can find their own private link sites within the main address.