Low-carbon travel scheme SmartGo comes to Maylands

Employees working at Hemel Hempstead’s Maylands Business Park can now benefit from a low-carbon travel scheme that aims to reduce pollution and improve air quality.

SmartGo Maylands, which launched on 5 December, is delivered by Go Travel Solutions to help businesses and their employees access sustainable travel opportunities.

It is jointly funded by Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, Dacorum Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council and St Albans City and District Council to help tackle congestion and pollution in the area and improve the sustainability of travel in and around the business park.

The staff benefits package aims to incentivise the use of alternative sustainable transport solutions to get to and from work such as buses, bikes, trains and electric vehicles.

Discounts are offered with a range of partners including transport specialists Arriva, London Northwestern Railway and Halfords to incentivise opting for low-carbon travel solutions. In order for employees to access deals, employers need to register with SmartGo Maylands.

The benefits for employers could include improved staff health and wellbeing, boosting staff morale and retention rates with an employee discount scheme, corporate social responsibility via reduced carbon footprint and lowered demand for parking spaces. Hertfordshire’s Enterprise Zone, Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, just outside Maylands Business Park, is leading the development of 3 million sq. ft. of new commercial space.

Richard Whitehead, Chair of Hertfordshire IQ and Hertfordshire LEP Board Member, said: ‘Sustainability is one of the biggest priorities for Hertfordshire IQ as we build a new cluster of green businesses in Hemel Hempstead. Enabling the business community to collaborate and incentivise sustainable travel solutions will not only benefit employers but will also have a positive impact on everyone who lives and works in the area.’

Councillor Graham Sutton, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure at Dacorum Borough Council stated, ‘We need to work together to support a shift towards more sustainable travel in and around Hemel Hempstead. The Council, in conjunction with its partners, is putting together a number of measures to enable this but need the support of the public and businesses to effect a shift away from single occupancy car use. SmartGo is one piece of the jigsaw in making this happen.’

Tara Clark, Project Manager for SmartGo Maylands said: ‘Employers on Maylands are facing growing challenges with travel to and from work. SmartGo Maylands offers a low-cost way for employers to respond to these challenges through promotion of sustainable transport, gaining all the business benefits that this approach brings.’

For more information about the SmartGo Maylands scheme please contact Tara Clark, Project Manager for Go Travel Solutions on tara.clark@go-travel-solutions.com or 07487 612770.

Image taken at the SmartGo Maylands launch. Front row L-R: Chris Taylor – Group Manager Strategic Planning and Regeneration, Dacorum Borough Council, Tara Clark – Project Manager, Go Travel Solutions, Helen Pollock – Project Executive, Herts IQ, Robin Pointon – Managing Director, Go Travel Solutions. Back row L-R: Max Oram – Hertfordshire County Council, Lawrence Hewitt – Economic Development Officer, St Albans City & District Council, James Doe – Assistant Director Planning, Development and Regeneration, Dacorum Borough Council.