TWO e-bikes are on the streets of Salisbury – transporting council staff around the city.
The bikes and helmets have been purchased by Salisbury City Council for £3,893.33 as part of the authority’s Travel Action Plan (TAP), which aims to reduce the environmental impact of activities.
They will now be used by staff at the Tollgate Road Depot for busness travel during working hours.
It comes after, in 2019, the council declared a Climate Emergency.
As a result, Sustrans were commissioned to complete an independent review of policy, procedures and processes, and deliver a TAP with opportunities and recommendations.
“The TAP is aimed at reducing the impact of travel across all Salisbury City Council sites, covering all employees, councillors and volunteers at council sites, and to assist in meeting the objectives of the Environmental Policy Action Plan which is in place to help the council lower its carbon footprint and move towards net zero,” a council spokesperson said.
Cllr John Wells, chair of the Environment and Climate Committee, added: “The Travel Action Plan clearly sets out the long-term planned commitment of Salisbury City Council to reduce our carbon footprint and improve air quality throughout the city.”
We need an urgent investigating into the use of funds for Salisbury council. Not enough money in the budget for a refurb of the toilets in Churchill gardens, but 50 cherry trees in the new concreted area there and two electric bikes…not to mention three electric vans that cost £64k each and have only limited use due to not being able to tow with them or carry more than 1 tonne at a time. And what about the £5k ladies toilet for a staff member at the HQ. Someone seems to be benefiting and it isn’t the general public.