Councillors celebrate joint efforts to secure Hounslow's first bicycle club

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 31st Jul 2007

Cllr Andrew Dakers and Cllr Caroline Andrews outside the West Middlesex Hospital site

Councillors Caroline Andrews and Andrew Dakers, both regular cyclists, are celebrating the recent success of their joint efforts to secure Hounslow's first Bicycle Club as part of a new development. The Bicycle Club will be included as part of a housing scheme on the eastern end of the West Middlesex Hospital site. The objective is to reduce the number of car journeys causing pressure on the local transport network and to reduce CO2 emissions.

Cllr Caroline Andrews said:

"If we are to tackle climate change, cycling must be made as easy as possible for people living in Hounslow. The agreement on this site will see one secure bicycle space for each of the 280 residential units. Crucially, and possibly for the first time in the UK, a bicycle will also be supplied through a club for every resident on the site.

"At a recent conference on Environmental sustainability, Hounslow teachers highlighted the need for a 'critical mass of cyclists' in the area to making cycling safer. This is the start of that process."

Cllr Andrew Dakers added:

"English Partnerships are to be congratulated on embracing this idea that we hope will contribute significantly to low carbon living. They have worked hard with Council officers to come to this agreement that will see just over fifty thousand pounds invested in local cycling. Caroline raised the idea at our local area planning committee. I then advocated it further at the Borough's Sustainable Development Committee where the final decision was taken.

"It just goes to show that local councillors have a voice and an important role to play in the fight against climate change."

ENDS