Central Bedfordshire Council news and press releases

Councils win at National Sustainable Travel Awards

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

In partnership with Luton Council, Bedford Borough Council and Govia Thameslink Railway, we triumphed at the National Sustainable Travel Awards 2020 last week, winning the Best Partnership Award.

The awards recognise and reward businesses for projects, events or activities that support and encourage sustainable travel, by highlighting best practice, showing innovation and being inspirational.

The Best Partnership Award was received following the successful collaboration work between the three councils and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) earlier this year. Over 30 donated bikes helped hospital staff get to and from work through exercise whilst maintaining social distancing.

Provided by GTR from bikes abandoned at Bedfordshire stations and the STARS Bike recycling project, the bikes were renovated for NHS key workers at Luton and Dunstable University, Bedford and Biggleswade Hospitals through the 'Bikes for Bedfordshire Health Heroes' scheme. The scheme gives a ‘thank you’ to NHS workers and promotes safe, sustainable travel, all at the same time.

Councillor Ian Dalgarno, our Executive Member for Community Services said:

It is fantastic news that our joint long-standing bike recycling scheme has been nationally recognised for the works to support our key NHS workers. The scheme has helped to transform the lives of those, who have done and continue to do so much for us during this time of crisis.

We want to do all we can to support them to get to and from work, to visit patients in the community, whilst also to getting some valuable exercise.

If residents have a bike they would like to donate to the councils' bike recycling scheme, they can be dropped off at the Luton depot (Unit 42, Portland Court, Kingsway, LU4 8AU), on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30am and 3pm.