New Car Club starts on 9 July 2007
A new borough-wide car club will aim to cut congestion, reduce emissions and slash residents' motoring bills.

The scheme, which will be operated for the council by Streetcar, is a cross between car ownership and car rental.

Members can book a car online or over the phone and, using their own smartcard, pick it up from a parking bay close to their home or work. They can hire the vehicle for as little as half an hour before returning it to its spot for the next user.

Streetcar already operates more than 50 cars from 29 off-street locations in the borough. With 2,000 local people signed up Wandsworth already has more car club members than any other borough in London.

From July 9 the service will be extended to 10 new areas. The council has designated car club parking bays in ten borough streets for use by people living nearby.

Streetcar are currently promoting the scheme in the new areas with scores of new members already recruited.

Andrew Edgar of Streetcar said:

"We're trying to make the experience as close as possible to owning your own car without all the costs and hassle."

Executive member for planning and transportation Guy Senior added:

"The amount of traffic on local roads is a real concern for many people. A scheme which can reduce levels of car ownership yet still provide a vehicle when people need it must be good news.

"By extending the concept so we can offer cars parked on the street a short distance from people's homes, we will be able to bring this form of car sharing within reach of many more drivers.

"We are aiming to make Wandsworth the car club capital of London."

Streetcar estimate that in the last three years, its members have reduced car mileage by up to two-thirds . In this time more than 7,500 privately owned vehicles have been taken off the road..

All the vehicles operated by Streetcar are Volkswagen Golfs and are available 24/7. The 10 new on-street locations which will be launched next Monday comprise:

Battersea SW11: Chivalry Road; Grant Road; Prince of Wales Drive (west).
Battersea SW8: Prince of Wales Drive (east)
Putney SW15: Chartfield Avenue
Tooting SW17: Rectory Lane; Undine Street
Wandsworth SW18: Magdalene Road; Podmore Road; Wimbledon Park Road.

The parking bays provided for the car club at these locations are not available to other vehicles at any time, and are marked with signs which state "Car club permit holders only". 

For more information, visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/carclub.

To find your nearest car or become a member visit www.streetcar.co.uk or call 0845 644 8475 (lines open every day from 7am-10pm)