Moray Council staff to saddle up for Scottish Workplace Travel Challenge

MORAY Council have signed up to take part in the Scottish Workplace Travel Challenge.

Each year from March 1-31, workplaces across Scotland compete to get the most staff travelling in active and sustainable ways.

At today's (Wednesday) meeting of the council's economic development and infrastructure services committee, Buckie councillor Sonya Warren asked if the local authority intended to participate in the scheme as a way of both helping reduce its carbon footprint and encourage staff to follow fitter lifestyles.

It was confirmed that the council would indeed be taking part.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Warren said: "I'm absolutely delighted that my question in the EDI committee has had such a positive response.

"It's fantastic that the council are going to run with it, it's such a positive move to encourage people to think about alternative ways of travelling to work.

"Sustainable travel forms such as walking and cycling are a great way to get fitter, save money as well as being kinder to the environment. There's also the opportunity to win fantastic prizes

"It would be a bonus if a local employer wins a prize however ultimately we are all winners if we help reduce our carbon footprint and help protect our environment."

It is free to sign up on the challenge website where individuals can set personal goals and workplaces can set targets for their organisation. Every journey that staff make to, from or for work by a sustainable mode can be logged on the website.

Staff can help their team climb the leaderboard as they leave the car behind and opt to walk, cycle, use public transport or even teleconference. The more staff at a workplace that take part, the higher up the leaderboard their team moves.

To find out more, or to sign up, visit https://www.sustrans.org.uk