Action needed to save Car Club services in Islington

Islington Liberal Democrats are asking the Mayor of London and Islington Council to step in after car club operator ZipCar announced it is closing its services in London.

It was the Liberal Democrats who launched the first on-street car club parking bays in Islington back in 2003. Since then, demand has grown, and now typically there is a car club bay within a five minute walk of every home in the borough. This popular service is now at risk.

Hillrise campaigner Philip Hayden said, “I was a founder member of Islington's first car club over twenty years ago.  I've used car clubs for clearing out my parent's house in Yorkshire, big shopping trips and taking garden waste for re-cycling. Car clubs are a vital option for the many Islington residents who don’t own a car, don’t want the cost and hassle of car ownership but do need to use a car from time to time." 

Chair of Islington LibDems Kate Pothalingam added “London Labour politicians are quick to say they want to cut car use, and to raise the costs of local car ownership. Now the Mayor of London and Islington Council must take urgent action to provide alternative car club options, including community-run car clubs, for Islington residents.”