A Strontian-based charity has launched its own car club to serve the communities of Acharacle, Ardgour, Morvern, Sunart and West Ardnamurchan.
The Urram Electric Car Club is a hire scheme that will enable residents to hire a new electric Skoda Enyaq.
"Transport in remote rural areas is difficult and our vision is that this car club will help reduce some of the issues faced by our residents," said Urram chairman James Hilder.
The new car will be located in Strontian, with its own charge point beside Oakwood Tourism and Crafts.
Sunart Community Company has been key a partner in enabling the car club to start, along with essential funding from the Community Regeneration Fund, The Highland Council and the Scottish Government.
Residents of Acharacle, Ardgour, Morvern, Sunart and West Ardnamurchan will be able to become club members and hire the car for up to a week at a time.
Tracy Cameron, transport development officer for Urram, has been working with a small team of testers to trial the club.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the difference the car club has on our residents," she said.
“It will help individuals save money as well as reducing our carbon footprint.”
The club will support Urram’s existing community transport service that takes residents to appointments which has increased its number of journeys in the last couple of years by more than 100 per cent.
“Widening the availability of Urram transport to include a car club was a natural progression to enable the community to make the most of the assets we have,” noted Mr Hilder.
“As Urram continued to seek ways to improve health and wellbeing for all our residents, it became more and more evident that transport is a big hurdle for people who want to live in this beautiful place.
“Hopefully the car club will reduce some of these challenges, reducing the need for householders to own a car or, in some cases, a second car.
“In future we would love to be able to expand the club by introducing other vehicles or more locations but for the moment we will concentrate on the success of the Skoda.”
For more information or to join visit urram.scot/urram-car-club or email info@urram.scot. Anyone joining during March will get a third off the cost of an annual membership.
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