Bike plan for poll day

12:49pm Sunday 27th July 2008

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A courier service using pushbikes has been hired to deliver Sutton Council ballot papers on polling day.

EcoLocal Deliveries – the zero-emission courier service – will also hand out post to elected councillors twice a week, saving the equivalent amount of carbon of 1.7 tonnes a year.

“Councillors receive a mountain of paperwork every week and I’m delighted that it’s now dropped off by a zero-emission courier.

Councillor Colin Hall

Deputy leader of Sutton Council, Colin Hall, said: “Councillors receive a mountain of paperwork every week and I’m delighted that it’s now dropped off by a zero-emission courier. Innovative steps like this are great for the environment and will help our aim of making Sutton the most sustainable borough in the country.

“I hope more businesses across the borough will follow our lead and take every opportunity to cut their carbon footprint.”

The service has expanded over its first nine months of trading and now delivers for all types of businesses including printers, chemists, accountants, health food stores, florists, sandwich shops and council departments. They are winning more clients as pre-conceptions about a cycle-based service are overcome.

CDS Printers in Sutton report that the service is “first class, efficient, cost effective” and Phil Bossey, owner of Flowerscents florists, remarked that “neither the delicate nature of the product nor quantities have proved any problem to them”.

The service uses a range of purpose-built bikes and trikes, some taking up to 250kg and others suitable for express drops of documents.

Stewart Walsh, EcoLocal Deliveries senior rider said: “Businesses are discovering that we offer a fantastic deal and can often be more cost-effective than using staff time for local deliveries.

“We would like to hear from other local businesses with an interest in exploring how we can help them. Being environmentally friendly can be good for business – the cost of running a trike is certainly lower than that of a motorised vehicle and this helps ensure we can offer good value for money.”

To contact EcoLocal on 07948316581 or email deliveries@ecolocal.org.uk.