As part of South Somerset DC’s drive to reduce back-office costs, we’re looking very carefully at our large mileage and fuel bills. The District is about 34 miles by about 13 miles and it’s very difficult for Council staff to do some jobs without travelling. People expect a planning application site to be seen, samples need to be taken at food factories and grass needs to be cut in situ. Indeed, District Council officers travelled well over half a million miles last year with Environmental Health being the lead user at 92,000 miles.

The car above is the Nissan Leaf, on long term loan to the Council for evaluation. Electric vehicles offer very low running and servicing costs and if the useage is high enough, this saving recoups the initial outlay. As a comparison, we’re paying about 2.75p per mile to re-charge the Leaf and we could be doing if for free – off the Council’s new electric roof!

As part of our evaluation Cllr Jo Roundell-Greene, John Richardson and I took the Leaf out to the Brympton allotments, which are on the border with St Michael’s, Jo’s ward. We were very impressed with the way it handled carrying 4 adults and the camera kit. This is definitely a saving I would want to make.

Peter

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