Address: Leander House, Fore Street, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 4DW
Please also refer to separate policies on Cycle to Work Scheme, Electric Bike Policy, CSER Policy, Flexible Working, Vehicles, and Driving Policy, Operations Manual, Induction, and to Staff Handbook.
Introduction
Our main reasons for implementing a Travel Plan are as follows:
- to reduce carbon footprint;
- to reduce parking requirements on-site and on surrounding roads;
- to achieve the minimum number of additional single-occupancy car traffic;
movements to and from the site;
- to reduce the need for travel to and from the site;
- to address the access needs of site users by supporting walking, cycling and public transport;
- to promote healthy lifestyles;
- to improve staff morale, enhance recruitment and retention of staff.
Walking
Walking is the most sustainable method of travel, has a number of proven health benefits and is an important source of personal freedom. Walking is important for the vast majority of people, including those using public transport or without access to a car. It has the potential to play an important role in journeys to work, particularly for those living within two miles of their workplace. Walking is a form of active travel, which can offer a range of physical and psychological benefits to the individual.
Cycling
Cycling is cheap, offers reliable journey times and is environmentally friendly. Within the workplace, encouragement of cycling can lead to a healthier, more productive workforce.
A link has been identified between car growth and obesity, with both trends increasing at a similar rate between 1985 and 2000. Travel Plans offer substantial health benefits to individuals who are motivated to complete more journeys on foot or by bicycle. In turn, employers can benefit through increased productivity and reduced absence through illness.
The company operate the “Cycle to Work Scheme” enabling employees to purchase bicycles and associated safety equipment through salary sacrifice. This means that employees are able to receive Income Tax and National Insurance savings on the retail price of their chosen bike and safety equipment package. The scheme is administered through a salary sacrifice agreement and is run in accordance with the Government’s Sustainable Travel Plan. Staff can select any model of bike up to a value of £1000 pa through independent bike shops taking part in this scheme, thereby providing business to the local community.
The Company also has a fleet of 4 electric bicycles which are currently lent to staff who do not have access to a bicycle at home. The company monitor the uptake of the Cycle to Work Scheme
The Company encourage, support and facilitate cycling by:
- providing a shower/changing room and lockers
- providing bicycle parking
- security – bicycle parking in a covered enclosure behind a new gate
- bicycle loan/tax free scheme for employees
- Providing charging for electric bikes
- discounts on bicycles and accessory purchases
- marketing of cycling (e.g. health aspects)
And offers the following subject to demand
• bicycle training
• bicycle buddy scheme
• cyclist events
• cyclist users group
Public Transport Access
Public transport remains important, particularly for journeys to work of more than 5 miles (8km). Its benefits include:
• No need to park.
• Traffic free routes (with rail or bus priority existing)
• Being able to relax, read or work (particularly beneficial for business travel)
The Company will encourage and support the use of public transport for commuting to Fore Street by continuing with the following:
• Subsidised bus season tickets
• Bus season ticket loans
Bus stops closest to Fore Street
Plymouth City Bus provide regular services from many areas of the city
Nos 5, 5A, 34, 70A and 112
Stagecoach provide several services to Paradise Road
Nos 14 and 36 with bus stops being approximately 8 minutes’ walk away from Fore Street.
There are bus stops along both sides of Paradise Road and Fore Street, less than ten minutes’ walk away in either direction.
Access by Train
The nearest train is Plymouth Train Station, which is on the main InterCity London Paddington to Penzance line. Services are operated by Great Western Railway and CrossCountry. The walk from the train station to Leander House, Fore Street is about 30 minutes; by bus (number 36) it is a 6 minute journey, followed by a walk of approximately 7 minutes.
Managing car use
It is important that car use and parking are managed.
Where the only option is to transport by vehicle, mapping of staff journeys is used to aid implementing car sharing. ‘Car Sharing’ refers to a situation where two or more people travel by car together, for all or part of the car trip.
These initiatives work and greatly reduce car use, benefiting the health and well-being of staff and generally increasing the quality of life with the added benefit of reducing the carbon footprint.
Expenses are not paid for students attending training for solo car use if they are able to share.
No additional payments are made to staff for car parking, as it is preferred that cars are not brought to work. No parking is available in the Children’s Centre car park; there is free on street parking available on Fore Street and on Raglan Road
No parking is allowed in Wollaston Road by staff.
We have purchased 4 car parks from the vicarage next door for directors to use. No additional payments are made to staff for car parking, as it is preferred that cars are not brought to work.
Additional car parks are available for purchase in the local Bournemouth Borough Council car park should they be needed, season tickets are available.
Colleagues are encouraged to use electric vehicles rather than diesel (air pollution) or petrol (climate change).
(Arrow = new office and training centre, red lines = do not park)
Van use
The Landlords (Hadland Care Group) have an electric van used for maintenance, and a charging point at Wollaston Road. This van will normally be parked on site overnight but will often be visiting the other sites during the day. The park is left of the door and can also be used during the day by visiting electric vehicles as it is next to the charge point.
Accessibility
There is two small parking spaces immediately outside front door to right and left that are reserved for disabled use.
