Car drivers could soon be jettisoning the costs of owning a vehicle by taking advantage of a car club scheme to be introduced in the borough this spring.

Merton is about to join 10 other London boroughs and major cities, Edinburgh and Bristol, in adopting the scheme run by Smart Moves Ltd.

It will mean drivers in the borough can use one of two centralised pool vehicles whenever they need to make a car journey, without having to foot the costs of ownership.

The London City Car Clubs scheme works by providing members with a "smartcard" which lets them into the cars, usually an estate or a run-around.

An on board computer then logs mileage and the length of time the journey takes, transferring the information onto a monthly invoice.

Hire can be booked in advance, over the phone or the web and journeys can be any length.

People who need access to a car in a hurry can even make an instant booking by checking the availability through the cars' own computers.

Tariffs have yet to be agreed with Merton Council but Smart Moves' London strategy manager Jo Taylor said membership could be anything from £10 upwards per month with hire costs from £2.50 per hour and fuel from 15p per mile.

She said drivers who clocked up less than 8,000 miles per year, often comprising second car owners or city commuters who did not need to own a car, found the scheme to be cost efficient.

It is hoped to have the scheme up and running in the spring with the first two cars based in Fairlawn Road, Wimbledon, after consultation with residents.

January 27, 2003 11:30