A POPULAR car share scheme has been given a funding boost of more than £100k from Malvern Hills District Council.

The Malvern Hills Community Car Club is a voluntary organisation providing access to pay-as-you-go vehicles.

The scheme aims to improve accessibility to transport for residents in rural areas as well as to help households reduce their carbon footprint by not owning a car and having more consideration about their car use.

There are clubs already set up in Malvern, Bransford, Colwall, Ledbury, Leominster, Fownhope and Kington.

The council has provided £101,995 from its priority commitment to Community Transport and is calling out to communities to get involved.

This funding will go towards setting up four ‘satellite hubs’ to help facilitate the clubs, with the small town and larger villages of Tenbury, Upton, and Kempsey being specifically targeted.

As well as this, the money will fund the set-up of an online booking system, as well as upgrade three community cars to electric vehicles.

Robin Coates, co-founder of Malvern Hills Community Car Club, said: "Our volunteer run car sharing club started in 2009 and has now expanded to 25 vehicles used by 188 households.

"To be able to provide this service to towns and villages away from the Malvern area we need to find local residents interested in joining us to help with some of the local tasks in their area.

"We provide the car, insurance, maintenance and all the booking and billing systems.

"The members pay an hourly and mileage rate when they use a car.

"Gone are the unexpected nasty bills and the costs of owning a car when you are not using it."

Cllr Sarah Rouse, portfolio holder for environment at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “The Malvern Hills Community Car Club is a brilliant opportunity to save money on travel costs and help others in your community.

"With more people working from home being a car club member means you can cut the cost of having a second car.

"Just borrow one when you need it. Not only that, with less cars on the road, this will help reduce carbon emissions in the district."

Visit malvernhills-carclubs.org.uk to find out more