KIRKLEES LIB DEM GROUP TO GO "CAR FREE" ON MONDAY 12 OCTOBER (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

KIRKLEES LIB DEM GROUP TO GO "CAR FREE" ON MONDAY 12 OCTOBER

October 9, 2009 1:28 PM

Kirklees Lib Dem Group has decided to go "Car Free" on Monday 12th October.

The Group wants to highlight how much Co2 people can save by travelling by other means as well as the problems that exist when people want to make journeys by public transport in urban and rural areas.

The Group is expecting to save between 20 and 30 kg of Co2 emissions in just one day by making their journeys by alternative methods. They will be travelling around the district by bus, train, and foot.

Councillor Ann Denham Lib Dem Group Business Manager said:

By travelling between Huddersfield and Meltham by bus to attend meetings in Huddersfield Town Centre Councillor David Woodhead will save approximately 4kg of CO2.

"On the 12th October the Lib Dem Group are going Car Free to demonstrate to people what is possible in terms of reducing their impact on the environment if they leave the car at home, even for just one day. But we will also be using the day to explore problems with the public transport system. We know that people want to help the environment but also that there are things stopping them from swapping to public transport. This exercise is not a gimmick and we intend to do it regularly throughout the year to give us a greater insight into the difficulties facing local people each day and to advise our future policy making."

By travelling between Huddersfield and Meltham by bus to attend meetings in Huddersfield Town Centre Councillor David Woodhead will save approximately 4kg of CO2.

And Councillor Andrew Marchington will save 1kg CO2 having left his car at home and taking the bus when visiting a colleague in a neighbouring ward.

However, not all the Councillors are likely to find their journeys easy or even possible.

Councillor Nicola Turner will be unable to take part in the car free day because of the lack of direct buses to the places she needs to reach.

Councillor Turner said:

"I live on Scapegoat Hill and need to reach Sowerby Bridge via Salendine Nook each day to drop my children off at School and then go to my business.

"To do this by public transport would involve me leaving the house at around 6 am if not earlier to catch a bus, a train followed by a further two buses to get to work leaving the kids to fend for themselves.

"While it is possible, with my obligations at work to attend meetings and deal with staff as well as by commitments to the council and my family, I simply cannot spend this amount of time on public transport.

"The issue is the lack of a decent rural service that links in with effective direct services to different areas. The other problem is the number of different companies running buses. It's not even as if you can buy just one ticket - you have to buy a new one every time you get on!"

"I was disappointed not to be able to take part but I'm in the same boat as a lot of working parents who have to choose the car because it is the only realistic way of getting to where you need to go each day".

All the below Councillors will be available to let you know how their car free day went if you call them on Monday using the below telephone numbers.

Councillor Journey Distance (Miles) Alt mode of transport CO2 saved

Councillor Andrew Machington07952 873013 Home (Golcar) to colleagues home (Linthwaite) (return) 2.1 Bus 1.02

Home (Golcar) to Huddersfield (Return) 3.1 Bus 1.51

Councillor John Smithson07721 835400 Home (Almondbury) to Huddersfield (Return) 3.2 Bus 1.56

Councillor David Ridgeway07973 703730 Home (Linthwaite) to Huddersfield (Return) 3.8 Bus 2.64

Home (Linthwaite) to Marsden (Return) 3.9 Bus 2.71

Councillor Ann Raistrick07814 127672 Home (Cleck) to Cleck Town Hall (Return) 0.6 Walk 0.29

Councillor Ann Denham0780 3159506 Home (Almondbury) to Huddersfield (Return) 2.8 Bus 1.65

Councillor David Woodhead07850 511749 Home (Meltham) to Huddersfield (Return) 5.5 Bus 3.82

Councillor Naz Hussain07528 988822 Home (Ravensthorpe) to Work (Dewsbury) and back (Return) 2.7 Walk 1.88

Home (Ravensthorpe) to Work (Dewsbury) and back (Return) 2.7 Walk 1.88

Councillor Andrew Pinnock07940 238441 Home (Cleck) to Cleck Town Hall (Return) 0.6 Walk 0.42

Councillor Karam Hussain07980 801833 Home (Ravensthorpe) to Huddersfield (Return) 8.2 Bus 7.81

Kirklees Liberal Democrats