Following work by a new local community organisation, Acocks Greener, of which I am an active member, Acocks Green ward residents now have access to a Car Club car, based in the middle of Acocks Green. The car is managed by Enterprise Car Club, who run a number of other car clubs around the UK.

Car clubs enable residents to rent a locally based car (no need to get to and from a car rental centre each time you rent the car). For residents and families who only need a car (or second car) every now and then, they are a great alternative to the large annual costs of owning a car.

They also bring big environmental benefits as research shows that each car club car replaces 6 privately owned cars. They also create a fair playing field between public transport and private car use, in terms of cost – allowing residents to chose what works best for them each time.

The first Acocks Green car club car is a fuel-efficient Toyota Yaris hybrid, which will not attract a charge when driven into the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, due to launch next year. It is parked at the Shirley Road end of Hazelwood Road, not far from Acocks Green Village.

The car will be cleaned between each use and can be booked online, by car club members.

Acocks Green ward residents can join Enterprise Car Club for £10 (normally £60) for the first year by using the promo code “ACOCKS10”. In addition, when you join a £10 driving credit will be applied to your account when your application is approved. To sign up in this way click on this link

If enough people join, Enterprise have promised to provide further locally based cars to meet the demand for them. The ambition is for future cars to be electric or even hydrogen fuelled, but that will depend on availability of suitable charging / fuelling facilities.

I hope this is a useful additional transport option for Acocks Green residents and will be very interested to hear any feedback.