Address: Heather Road, Fawley, SO45 1DZ
Please also refer to separate policies on Cycle to Work Scheme, Electric Bike Policy, Environmental Policy, Flexible Working, Vehicles, and Driving Policy, Operations Manual, Induction, and to Staff Handbook and CSR Policy.
Introduction
Our main reasons for implementing a Travel Plan are as follows:
- To reduce parking requirements 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;tto address the access needs of site users by supporting walking, cycling and public transport;
- To promote healthy lifestyles;
- To encourage more active travel with gains for health;
- 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 – new bicycle parking in a covered enclosure behind a new gate (to be installed left of building front)
- 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)
Access to public transport is very good in the location of Heather Road. Yellow Buses and
More bus providing regular services with bus stops a short walk away.
The Company will encourage and support the use of public transport for commuting to
Heather Road by continuing with the following:
• Subsidised bus season tickets. THE COMPANY are members of BTN
• Bus season ticket loans
Bus stops closest to Heather Road in Fawley
Church Road, Southbourne (2 minute walk)
Bus no – 33 Bournemouth – Hospital – Christchurch
Bus no – 1 Two Rivers Meet – Church Road – Bournemouth Triangle
St Catherine’s Road, Southbourne (3 minute walk)
Bus no – 33 Bournemouth – Hospital –
Christchurch
Access by Train
The nearest train is Pokesdown Train Station, which is on the main line from Weymouth/Wareham to London, running close to a number of our nurseries, so convenient for learners and colleagues. The walk from the train station to 3 Wollaston Road is about 35 minutes, and by bus (M2 or 1) it is 13 minutes (4 buses per half hour)
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 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 (global warming).
(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.
