Page 37 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • October 2012 37
Share the fuel bill and benefit in the pocket big time

National Liftshare Week takes heading my way. The car is fixed Car sharers also have to be flexible • sharing also improves work-life
place from 1 to 5 October, and now so I can play my part in rotat- to fit in with the others. balance as they become accustomed
aims to promote car sharing to fill ing the driving.” But they list a number of benefits to leaving the office at an agreed
up some of the 38 million empty Bob has been car sharing for including: time.
car seats being driven around the the past twelve years and even a • the social aspect. You chat about Find out more at www.carshare-
UK each rush hour. move from Royal Wootton Bassett everything and anything, from cars swindon.com
Since 2008 over 2,000 Swindon car to Abbey Meads was no trouble. to TV programmes, and you can
drivers have signed up to www.car- “I found there was a ready supply get rid of any stress from that day
shareswindon.com which matches of car share partners driving from at work before you arrive home;
up drivers going the same way at North Swindon to Newbury. Our • the financial benefit. The trip to
the same time. employer has a shortage of car Newbury saves each driver 65 miles
Four commuters from North parking, and promotes car sharing a day. Put it another way, between
Swindon, Ian Fleming, Martin to overcome the pressures, so it was them about 1,000 miles a week or Body Repairs
Oakes, Bob Dixon and Sandy easy to join the other three.” 46,000 miles a year. Each car sharer
Nicholson, now travel together to So, could car sharing be for saves £12 a day when they don’t Car painting
Newbury each day. you? There are a few downsides, drive, a total of £2,000 annually on Mechanics
Martin said: “I started sharing for example an employer needs to fuel, not counting wear and tear,
when my car broke a year ago and recognise staff can’t stay late or may depreciation and insurance for Unit 20, Axis Business Centre
I actively sought people who were have to leave meetings promptly. lower mileage; Westmead Industrial Estate
One car, four drivers, do the math, say Ian, Martin, Bob and Sandy • greater safety. Car sharers re- West Swindon SN5 7YS
port they drive more slowly with
passengers on board, whilst the Tel/fax : 08458340923
coordination of pick ups is offset M: 07803 322392
by the fact there are three back up f: wbsauto
vehicles if the car owned by driver www.wbsauto.co.uk
of the day breaks down.
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New shop and café set for October
opening at Redhouse Village Centre

Students from Uplands School in North Swindon are looking forward
to the October half term grand opening of their brand new shop and
café on the site of the former pharmacy.
Explaining the ethos behind the Describing the venture as some-
enterprise project, deputy head thing the whole school will benefit
Andy Segal said: “We want to from Andy said: “Whilst there is a
forge stronger links with the com- small team of students responsible
munity and offer our students real for the running of the shop, every
work experience. They are great single student regardless of dis-
at customer service so it will be a ability will have some sort of input
fantastic opportunity to educate the into the project.”
public about the skills and abilities Uplands School has received
of our youngsters.” support from Zurich and the
The shop will sell good quality Openworks Foundation to prepare
second hand items as well as cards, the shop, which is set to be a smart
crafts and gifts that the students addition to Redhouse, opposite the
have produced themselves. The North Swindon Learning Campus.
students will also bake their own To make donations of items to sell,
cakes and treats for sale in the café. drop in to the shop after it opens.
The former pharmacy unit off Isambard Way which has been empty for nearly two years

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