BUSINESS NEWS
Bath businesses offered free trial with e-cargo bike couriers
Businesses , retailers and voluntary organisations in Bath are being encouraged to trial the use of electric cargo bikes for local deliveries as part of a new scheme to reduce the number of journeys made by polluting vehicles .
The E-cargo Bike scheme , which is run and funded by Bath and North East Somerset Council , offers organisations a free twoweek trial with e-cargo bike operators , Three Bags Full or WEGO Couriers .
The scheme aims to boost the use of low-impact , zero emission , e-cargo bikes for delivering goods in Bath to reduce city centre noise , congestion and air pollution .
Councillor Sarah Warren , Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel , said , “ This is a good opportunity for businesses to try out a green , low-impact delivery method for free . E-cargo bikes have zero tailpipe and extremely low carbon emissions , so they don ’ t incur CAZ charges or contribute to air pollution . Using e-cargo bikes instead of cars and vans is a way of providing fast , affordable deliveries in Bath , including areas where access for vehicles is restricted . It ’ s also a way to tackle the climate emergency and helps towards our aim of carbon neutrality by 2030 .”
Local businesses will be offered a free two-week free trial with either operator , a feasibility review to check that using e-cargo is sustainable over the long term for the business , followed by further subsidies for an agreed period of up to six months should the trial go well .
Pulteney Pharmacy has recently completed an introductory two-week free trial with an e-cargo bike courier , through the scheme .
Ali Hashemian , owner of Pulteney and Bathampton Pharmacy , said , “ Reducing air pollution is important to us – poor air quality is a big factor in everyone ’ s health , contributing to chronic heart and lung conditions . Not only are we reducing traffic and congestion by using e-cargo bike couriers , but we ’ re improving the health and lives of our patients , employees , and Bath residents .
“ We are very happy with the service . Harry , our advisor from the council , ensured our needs were met and the e-cargo bike deliveries have really impressed us and our customers . We are now eager to find a way to make e-cargo bike deliveries a sustainable part of our business .”
Bath and North East Somerset Council has secured £ 500,000 of government funding to launch the scheme . The trial project will run until the end of August 2022 , using a proportion of the secured funds , and will be extended if it proves successful .
Any business , organisation , community or voluntary group interested in taking part in the free trial scheme can register interest at : www . bathnes . gov . uk / ecargobath .
The council will share the findings of the trial with the West of England Combined Authority to help shape the work it is scoping as part of the Urban Freight Transport project , which may include e-cargo loan bikes and consolidated goods delivery for local retailers and residents across the region .
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT KEYNSHAM RECYCLING HUB
Work on an environmentally friendly £ 39.1million recycling hub in Keynsham is under way with contractors now on site .
The first stage of the project to be completed will be the public Reuse and Recycling Centre which is due to be opened in late autumn .
The contractor , Farrans , is preparing the site at Pixash Lane where Bath & North East Somerset Council is investing in the state-of-the-art facility to improve recycling for residents and help meet its Climate Emergency aims .
Councillor David Wood , Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services , said , “ I ’ ve been along to meet the teams working on this project and I am very pleased to see the progress made on site . Keynsham Recycling Hub is an ambitious project which includes a raft of innovative measures that will help us to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies .
“ It will be transformational , expanding public recycling provision while futureproofing our service and meeting the need for household waste and recycling and kerbside collections now and in the future . I ’ m looking forward to coming back and seeing the construction progress .”
The contract with Farrans was finalised after Cabinet approved the total capital of £ 39.1m needed to deliver the construction phase and the relocation of existing facilities from Midland Road in Bath .
The first stage of the project to be completed will be the public Reuse and Recycling Centre ( RRC ) which is due to be opened in late autumn .
In line with the council ’ s climate and ecological emergency declarations and policy aims , the site design includes :
• on-site renewable energy generation , via a 3800m2 ( 783kWp ) solar panel array
• office and welfare buildings designed fabric-first to be sustainable
• rainwater harvesting and sustainable drainage
The existing Reuse and Recycling Centre at Pixash Lane will remain open as normal for residents during the construction .
The Midland Road recycling centre in Bath will remain open until an alternative like for like Bath site is in place . When the Midland Road site is vacated , it will be released to build new homes supported by Homes England grant funding .
The council and Farrans will continue to work together throughout the construction period to ensure residents are kept up to date with progress on site and any activities that may affect them .
You can find out more about the project and sign up for regular updates on the council website .
6 www . tbebathandsomerset . co . uk