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Leave the car at home? Teesside firms get behind greener commuting campaign

Let’s Go Tees Valley travel advisor Jonathan Scott with Angela Howey, head of contact centre operations at EE.

Staff from employers across the Tees Valley have taken the first step to a healthier, happier lifestyle by signing up to the Let’s Go Tees Valley Commuter Challenge.

The challenge is part of a Tees Valley project to reduce the number of cars on our roads by encouraging local people to swap single occupancy car journeys for more sustainable modes of travel.

The week-long commuter challenge, launched by local travel project Let’s Go Tees Valley, will run from the 13th to 19th May 2019 and will see commuters switch some or all of their single-occupancy car journeys to walking, cycling, using public transport or car sharing for the chance to win prizes. Those who sign-up by the 30 April stand to win early bird prizes.

“Changing the way we travel from our usual car ride in favour of active travel modes can have a significant impact on our health, waistlines and wallets, as well as reducing congestion and improving air quality.” says Georgina Burke, speaking on behalf of Let’s Go Tees Valley.


“We’re challenging Tees Valley commuters to stop and think before grabbing their car keys for local journeys. Nearly half of all of car journeys are under two miles and these short trips have a huge impact on local congestion and pollution. ”

The challenge is running across the Tees Valley in May to tie in with National Walking Month. National Walking Month is a national campaign to encourage more walking in our everyday lives.

EE in Darlington was the first business to sign-up to take part in the Let’s Go Tees Valley Commuter Challenge for 2019 and was quickly followed by several other large employers including Chemoxy International in Middlesbrough, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies in Billingham and University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton-on-Tees.

To register for the week long Commuter Challenge or to download a promotional pack please visit Let’s Go Tees Valley’s website and follow the instructions.

Currently, around two thirds of cars have just one person in them, with travel to and from work being the main reason to travel. The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK are transport related. Air pollution in our towns and cities is increasingly being linked to a range of health problems; one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are due to air pollution.

EE, Darlington

EE in Darlington is a keen promoter of being environmentally-friendly and reducing single-occupancy car journeys at its site in Darlington. It implemented a successful car sharing scheme in September 2019. With 176 employees registered for the scheme EE has managed to significantly reduce its car parking pressures.

Speaking on behalf of the business Angela Howey, head of contact centre operations said: “As a growing business with upwards of 2,000 staff needing to access the site on a daily basis we were experiencing huge pressure on our limited car parking spaces.

“The increased demand issues meant that we had started to rent additional spaces from a neighbouring site and we were keen to reduce the number of vehicles being used to access our site on the edge of Darlington town centre.

“Since launching the scheme last year we have seen significant cost savings for the business through a reduction in the number of car parking spaces we need. Car parking demand management has become easier and there is less site congestion. We’re a big employer in the town and this is helping us to demonstrate how much we care by reducing the environmental, congestion and health impact of cars travelling to and from our site.”

Since the scheme started EE has managed to reduce the number of spaces they rent by 70.
• 176 employees registered to the car share scheme
• In the first six months of the scheme over 6,500 miles have been saved on the daily commute by employees sharing their journey

In addition to a car-sharing scheme, EE worked with Let’s Go Tees Valley travel advisors to deliver staff travel planning on-site, ran employer travel club sessions with Arriva and Let’s Go Tees Valley travel advisors, and has worked with a local provider to run regular Dr Bike sessions for its staff on site.

Richard lost six-stone, just by ditching the car for his commute

Richard Glover, 36 who is from Middlesbrough was a winner in the Let’s Go Tees Valley Middlesbrough Commuter Challenge in May 2018. Since he started riding a bike to work instead of driving seven years ago, Richard has lost six stone in weight.

Richard cycles between Ingleby Barwick and Teesside University’s Middlesbrough campus where he works as a digital learning developer.

“Most of my cycling is to and from work.” he told us, “I ride for six to nine months of the year. When it’s windy it can make it difficult so that’s when I drive instead.” he explains.

Chatting about cycling, Richard showed us the bike that he has had for seven years, bought originally through a cycle to work scheme.

“My route is about six miles, partly on off-road cycle paths from Ingleby Barwick. It’s a nice easy route.”

Richard first took up cycling when he lived in Acklam seven years ago. His route then was just 2 miles in and out of work. Starting with a shorter route helped him to gain confidence and build up his fitness.

Cycling to and from work has helped Richard to lose an amazing six stone. In addition to this he is now able to make a tank of fuel for his car go three times further, so travelling on two wheels is something he will definitely keep doing!

Leaving the car at home adds up for Dawn

Working in finance at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, 55 year-old Dawn Fearnley is no stranger to calculating profit and loss.

That’s why, when the opportunity to change her commuting habits as part of the Let’s Go Tees Valley Redcar Commuter Challenge appeared in 2018, Dawn was quick to ditch the car in favour of the most cost-effective way to travel: walking, which she has carried through into other aspects of her life.

“We live in a really beautiful area.” says Dawn, who really enjoyed the Let’s Go Tees Valley 5-day challenge to Redcar commuters in spring 2018 to change the way they travelled to work.

Dawn decided to take advantage of the opportunity to continue walking to work beyond the challenge and now walks on a regular basis.

“I work in finance, so I can see by the numbers just how much cheaper it is.” she says.
And it’s not just walking to work several times a month. Dawn is doing more of her other local journeys on foot.

“I used to do things like taking my car to transport my dog down to the beach for a walk. I now just pop on my hiking boots and we go on foot. I had always had problems with my ankles in the past which put me off walking. My doctor recommended I walk in a good pair of boots and it’s done the trick.” says Dawn, who plans to walk even more now that the weather is improving.