Linstone expands eco-friendly Car Club

Drivers are being urged to get in the driving seat with an eco-friendly Car Club from Linstone Housing.

Two new locations have been unveiled for people who want to take a greener approach to driving and also free themselves from the cost of car ownership.

Linstone said that its car club has been “a huge success” and has now received nearly £100,000 in funding, allowing it to triple the fleet of vehicles available to three.

New locations, complete with electric Nissan cars, are at Arran Drive, Sandyflats, Johnstone, which was launched this month, and at Blackwood Avenue, Linwood, which will go live on 9 October. They complement the existing location and its hybrid vehicle at Belmar Court, Linwood.

The success of the club and its rising levels of interest has delighted the housing association – prompting the expansion.

The cars can be hired on an hourly basis, booked online with the whole process being simplicity itself. A membership fee is payable, and a mileage rate applies.  

The roll-out has come about after Linstone won £96,000 from the Energy Saving Trust’s Plugged-In Households Grant Fund designed to help housing associations and community groups offer a car club.

Linstone said it was proud to be playing its with the car club to address climate change and help local people with motoring.

Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Mhairi Black attended the launch and gave her full support to the initiative. 

Meanwhile, two Renfrewshire residents have become the newest members to sign up to the scheme.

Francesca Scott from Kilbarchan, who took her first test drive in the car, said: “This is a great step forward and Linstone is to be commended for taking the lead in promoting such an environmentally-friendly way of getting about.”

Sandyflats resident Thomas Regan added: “I think this is a great idea and have signed up right away. Well done to Linstone Housing for making car use affordable and environmentally friendly.”

Adele Fraser, Chief Executive of Linstone Housing, said: “The arrival of the two electric cars this summer will widen the reach of our car club significantly.

“We encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch and make use of the club which eliminates many of the drawbacks of car ownership.”

Linstone Housing Board member and tenant Sandy Hewitt is a regular user of the club.

He said: “We are delighted to now have a presence for the car club at two new locations which is a welcome development. More people than ever before will be able to use it. making the convenience and low-cost of driving right on your doorstep.” 

Find out more about the car club at www.leapcarclub.co.uk or by emailing linstone2020@linstone.co.uk

Pictured: Mhairi Black MP with residents, and the team from Linstone’s car club.