you are in > news > july 2008

Photo courtesy of the Evening News, Norwich

Daniel makes the news

Ayton Products’ (business name of May Gurney) employee Daniel Farrington’s efforts to ‘do his bit for the planet’ earned him a mention in the local press recently.

Daniel has signed up to a local car-sharing scheme, Liftshare. A typical Liftshare member saves around £1,000 and 1 tonne of CO2 per year by sharing their daily journey.

May Gurney’s sustainability manager, Dr. Tom Macagno, said: "In December last year, we surveyed staff on their travel habits in an effort to find ways of increasing the number of people who used public transport, bicycles or car sharing to get to work. Six months later, over 100 staff have registered on a lift share scheme."

Daniel, Bitumen Products’ Sales Administrator, was driving the 32-mile round trip to work on his own, but now shares the journey with three other people.

In an article that appeared in the Eastern Evening News on 19 June, Daniel said: “It's really good. You get to have a chat with some people on the way in and the people I'm lift sharing with are very nice.

“If I can save a little money, they can make some, and we're all doing our bit to save the planet for future generations - everyone's a winner.”

Growing concern about the cost of petrol has seen thousands of commuters flock to car sharing, according to latest figures.

Attleborough-based Liftshare has seen nearly 11,000 new members nationwide sign up to the scheme. And in the Norwich area, the company, which helps to match commuters through its website, has seen a 50% increase in membership.

Tony Hipperson, Ayton Products’ General Manager, said: “We commend Daniel’s efforts to reduce his personal carbon footprint.

“As a company we are very mindful of the impact of our trading activities on the environment, and take all possible steps to reduce waste and energy consumption.

“When we handed back Lyndford Quarry to the Forestry Commission earlier this year, after 40 years of quarrying activity, it was fully restored to the conditions of the planning consent and landowners requirements.

“During the restoration some 4000 new trees were planted, a reed swamp mosaic and grassland areas were restored, and a disabled access pathway created to the new bird hide and beach areas,” Tony added.

Click here to read more about Lyndford Quarry.

back to top