eCargo Bike grant funding success for Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been successful in securing funding of £60,972 from the Department for Transport eCargo Bike Grant Fund Local Authority Scheme 2021/2022.

The funding will enable the District Council to purchase a total of ten eCargo bikes from local supplier Pashley Cycles who are based in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Working in partnership with both Pashley Cycles and Stratford Bike Hire, a trial scheme will be set up to allow local organisations to test the benefits of eCargo bikes without making a financial commitment.

The goal of the project is to raise awareness and demonstrate the benefits of eCargo bikes to local organisations in order to encourage them to replace the use of cars and vans, particularly in 'last mile' deliveries.

It is anticipated that the scheme will be formally launched in spring 2022 once it has been set up in collaboration with the Energy Saving Trust and when the eCargo bikes are available from Pashley Cycles. 

Increasing the take-up of eCargo bikes by organisations within the District is one of the many ways that we can tackle the climate emergency and move towards net zero carbon. Some of the benefits include reducing congestion in the main centres, improving air quality, reducing transport carbon emissions and encouraging active travel.

The District Council will be providing match funding of £60,000 over a five year period to cover the ongoing costs for maintenance, servicing, repairs and induction training. This funding is being sourced from the Council's Climate Change Panel funds.

Cllr Daren Pemberton, Deputy Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Place and Economy Portfolio Holder says: "Securing funding from the Department for Transport for the purchase of a number of eCargo bikes enables the Council to promote their use to a wide range of public, private and community organisations across the District. Setting up a trial scheme in partnership with Pashley Cycles and Stratford Bike Hire provides the opportunity to maximise take up locally and encourage the use of eCargo bikes for local and last mile deliveries, achieving a range of benefits to the District."

Cllr Ian Shenton, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change says: "I'm delighted the eCargo bikes will soon be coming to the streets of our Towns.  Not only will this support our local businesses, but will also play a part in tackling air quality and climate change.  Whilst we know there is so much we need to do to meet our climate change ambitions, it is through practical projects like this one that, step by step, we can start to make a real difference."

Pashley Cycles, the key partner in the scheme says: "We are delighted to be able to support Stratford-on-Avon District Council with 10 locally built eCargo bikes. We are receiving a huge increase in enquiries for this type of product as consumers and businesses look for alternative ways of moving goods in an urban environment. Pashley have a wealth of experience in this category as we have been designing, developing and manufacturing delivery bikes in the Midlands since 1926."