Car club launches in Winchester

2:11pm Tuesday 27th May 2008

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A CAR club has been launched in Winchester where motorists can take the wheel for £5 per hour.

It is only the third in Hampshire after one in Southampton and Portsmouth.

Winchester City Council hopes the club will be a useful way to reduce the number of vehicles in the city.

The operator, WhizzGo, believes it provides a cheaper option for motorists than running their own car. It provides the fuel, servicing, road tax, insurance, cleaning, and breakdown recovery.

The city council believes car clubs help cut the number of cars, meaning less pollution and congestion.

Each car in a car club is estimated to replace between six and 19 private cars.

The first four vehicles, Citroens, were unveiled outside the Guildhall.

WhizzGo managing director Charlotte Morton said: "This is a fantastically convenient service. The car is right on your doorstep and we take away all the hassle of owning a car."

The firm already operates car clubs in 12 cities across Britain, including Southampton.

Club members can book a car by phone or online up to 30 minutes before it is required.

The council is giving support, and is providing parking bays in Jewry Street, Colebrook Street, Gladstone Street, and Middle Brook Street car parks.

The council's head of access and infrastructure, Andy Hickman, added: "A considerable amount of traffic growth in recent years has been due to the increasing levels of second-car ownership and we think that car clubs can offer a real alternative for those users."