EMPLOYEES at Hereford's Rotherwas Industrial Estate are putting the environment first when travelling to work as part of an innovative Travel Plan launched this week.

Workers are being encouraged to use pedal power, pound the pavement, car share or simply use public transport as a more environmentally friendly way of getting around.

Twenty major employers, representing more than 50% of employees at Rotherwas, have signed up to the scheme.

Strategy

The plan has been developed by RPS Transport working in partnership with employers on the estate to focus on reducing traffic congestion and pollution caused by vehicles. It forms part of an overall strategy for improving access to the estate.

This includes investment by Herefordshire Council into working towards the provision of a new access road to the estate and providing facilities such as cycle parking and pedestrian crossings.

Councillor Mike Wilson, cabinet member (highways and transportation), said: "If people can leave their cars at homes it not only helps reduce congestion and pollution associated with heavy traffic but offers wide ranging health benefits to employees themselves - not to mention cost savings.

"It's a win-win situation!"

Initiatives which have already been implemented include discounted bus travel, a bicycle user group (BUG), cycle training, a bike doctor service, a car share scheme, a guaranteed ride home scheme and more than 50 cyclists attended a Bike Breakfast held during the national Bike-2-Work Week.

The Rotherwas Travel Plan has received support from the South Wye Regeneration Partnership and Advantage West Midlands. Funding has also been provided from the European Regional Development Fund Objective 2 Programme.

For further information on the Rotherwas Travel Plan please contact Richard Ball, Herefordshire Council, on 01432 260000 or Damian Ford, travel co-ordinator, on 0788 7990643.