18 | Aycliffe Today Business
LOCAL
MOTION
Local Motion is sweeping across Aycliffe Business Park, as Aycliffe Today reporter RACHEL WRIGHT investigates…
Healthy workers with improved
well-being and a sustainable
lifestyle are high on the agenda
for a life changing project that has
found walkers with will power and
people with pedal power here on
Aycliffe Business Park.
The Local Motion project is ready to
take up the challenge of encouraging
workers to think about making changes to
a healthier lifestyle, which also provides
minimum long term effect on the
environment that surrounds us.
Local Motion is an exciting project
promoting the health benefits of active
travel in the areas of Shildon, Newton
Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland. The aim is
to encourage workers to leave the car
at home and get active, while having a
positive impact on the environment, health
and pocket.
Local Motion is funded by the Department
for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport
Fund and is supported by Durham County
Council and Darlington Borough Council,
and also works in partnership with the
NHS and leading charity Sustrans.
The park’s very own Local Motion Travel
Ranger, Steve Shepperson, is on hand to
support the changes and help people to
make sustainable decisions.
Steve said: “It’s all about making the
changes enjoyable for people, and that is
what we are trying to do on the business
park.
“There are very good reasons why
workers should think about changing their
method of transport to and from work. The
health benefits being the obvious reason,
but also to actually enjoy their journey to
work, and there is a real cost benefit too
with fuel being so expensive these days.
”
Over the last three years Durham County
Council has undertaken research in the
area to establish how people travel to
work. Results show 59% travel by car
alone, while only 9% car share, 11% walk,
8% use the bus or train and only 4% cycle
into work.
The Local Motion project are confident
they can reduce lone car users by up to
30% and can increase cycling by up to
22% and believe there is huge scope to
change how people actually travel to work.
There are also real benefits to the many
businesses on the park, too.
Recent research has shown a reduction
in sickness and absence by 5%, an
increase in staff productivity, improved
staff retention, less congested car parks
and the well-being and attitude of staff is
increased by an impressive 60%
Steve explains: “Aycliffe Business Park
is the biggest in our area, and with the
up-and-coming arrival of Hitachi and the
increased workforce it makes complete
sense to work with companies on the park
to look at how people are getting to work
and to adapt this accordingly so we all
reap the benefits.
“But it’s about doing this in a friendly
and fun way so that people do genuinely
want to take part. We can demonstrate to
people what they can do, rather than just
talk about it, which makes it much more
real and makes it an easier ‘life change’ for
them when they know they can actually
do it.
“Also many people who work on the park
don’t live that far away they could be
within a four mile radius which means it
really is achievable.
”
Steve is planning to demonstrate around
the park several ways in which people
can take part and there will be something
for everyone to enjoy, through organised
sessions, demonstrations and events.
The inspirational programme includes:
l