Dorchester Car Club welcomes 'Doris' (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester Car Club welcomes 'Doris'

12:50pm Friday 25th September 2009 in

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THE DORCHESTER Car Club wheeled out its second vehicle in front of county town shoppers.

The car club, which offers members shared access to a car, was launched in 2007 and now has around 20 members.

Due to growing demand the group, which is run by Dorset Community Action and Transition Town Dorchester through the Wombat Car Club, is now running a second car and showed off the vehicle in South Street.

Children from Damers First School had the honour of naming the car and came up with the name Doris, as it shares the first three letters with the county town.

Simon Thompson, community fieldworker for Dorset Community Action, said: “The club is good for people who can’t afford the extra costs such as an MOT, and do less than 5,000 miles a year. It enables people to use car when they really need it and pay nothing when it would be sitting in the driveway.”

Dorset Community Action says that for each car the scheme provides it will take eleven off the road, therefore reducing carbon emissions and local traffic congestion.

Coun Geoffrey Brierley, who is Dorset County Council cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation, also attended the unveiling of the car.

He said: “The economic advantages for those who drive less are quite clear, and I think the club should be expanded even more.

“I met an old age pensioner, who joined that day and was going to hire a car next week.”

He added: “I think the name Doris is brilliant.

“My wife always names cars after women as well and the Dor for Dorchester is just fantastic.”

The service is available all year round, with members able to book online and then access the vehicle using a membership swipe card.

The cars have GPS tracking technology, and to the minute billing.

For more information about the Car Club scheme visit www.wombatcarclub.co.uk, email wombatdorset@hotmail.co.uk or call 07810565204.