More volunteers have joined Fenland’s Travel Champions following a training session funded by CrossCountry.
Fenland District Council received funding from the train operator’s community engagement fund on behalf of the Hereward Community Rail Partnership and Fenland Transport and Access Group (TAG) to deliver a free travel champion training session in March last month.
The session was designed to teach volunteers about the transport options available locally and to encourage others to consider their travel choices and make better use of public transport.
It followed training sessions which have already been delivered in Wisbech as part of the council’s Wisbech Travel Choices project.
Councillor David Oliver, the council’s portfolio holder for transport, said: “The Travel Champions training is all about inspiring people to make more active and sustainable journeys every day, whether by walking and cycling or travelling by train or bus.
“We have already appointed a number of travel champions within local organisations, who are helping their staff and customers to use greener, healthier alternatives to cars, and we’d like to appoint more in local communities too.”
Volunteers who attended the training session said it was “enjoyable, engaging, educational and informative”, helping to raise awareness of the means and methods of transport available and how to access it.
Terry Jordan, clerk to Wisbech Town Council and member of Fenland TAG, said he attended the session to improve his knowledge and skills when giving advice about public transport. “These sessions are really important to reduce car use and encourage use of public transport,” he said.
Retired resident Alan Walker said: “I rely on public transport to get around and would like to see it used more by everyone; showing people what options are available to them locally.”
Chatteris Town Councillor and library assistant Julie Smith added: “I work in a library and think we should make more use of this as a resource for travel information.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Travel Champion should call Fenland District Council on 01354 622318 or email neighbourhoodstrategy@fenland.gov.uk to be added to the next training session waiting list.
Training is free and open to anyone. Everyone who completes a training session will receive a Travel Champions bag, badge and handbook.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here