Electric community car club helps vulnerable make vital trips

South Ayrshire Community Transport is launching a brand new Community Car Club for Ayr residents in Scotland today, 9 August.

The two year pilot scheme will give vulnerable people in the local community, which has low car-ownership, access to two electric vehicles for vital medical appointments, job interviews or shopping.

SP Energy Networks awarded the funding to South Ayrshire Community Transport as part of its £20million Green Economy Fund, which supports the  Scottish Government's climate change targets, boosts local economic growth, improves air quality and delivers a better future.

South Ayrshire Community Transport was formed in 2016 by a consortium of local community transport operators and third sector organisations that identified a large number of unmet transport needs across South Ayrshire. They have minibuses which members of the community in the Ayr, Kyle and Carrick areas can hire to help voluntary groups and organisations carry out local activities.
 
Catriona Haston, Community Transport Manager at South Ayrshire Community Transport, said: “We are extremely proud to be launching the new electric vehicle Community Car Club for local residents. Our current transport services have been popular and it’s great that we’re now able to expand this to be able to meet the demand. In addition to helping people in our community, the Green Economy Fund has allowed us to deliver environmentally friendly modes of transport that encourages others in our community to start thinking about how they can help tackle climate change.”
 
Angus Campbell, District General Manager for Ayrshire and Clyde South, said: “South Ayrshire Community Transport is a great example of a project that is boosting its local community in both the short and long term, and we are delighted to be a part of this. The funding from the Green Economy Fund will provide the benefits of electric vehicles in more than one way; meeting a need for less expensive travel options and helping to tackle climate change. We’re excited to see the impact that the Community Car Club has on local residents.”
 
Councillor Helen Moonie, Provost of South Ayrshire, said: “Thanks to funding from SP Energy Network’s Green Economy Fund, South Ayrshire Community Transport has been able to set up a Community Car Club using two low carbon vehicles. This is a positive step to combat social isolation and link communities across South Ayrshire.”