Companies from the Langage Business Park have teamed up with the Highways Agency, Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and South Hams Council to form a steering group for the new Langage Area Wide Travel Plan, with the aim of changing people's thoughts on how they get to work and moving towards more sustainable modes of transport.

The Langage travel plan was launched in conjunction with a Devon Car Free Day, to help promote alternatives to car travel, such as car sharing and public transport. Getting into the spirit of things, employees from 118 118 dressed up and took part in the launch, promoting various sustainable travel options and, more importantly, having fun while they did so. The event was supported by both Target Travel and Plymouth Citybus.

Since the launch, people at Langage have been working hard to support the travel plan and the steering group has developed a website to keep everyone informed. Langage Links www.langagelinks.co.uk, the official website for the travel plan, gives a lot of information on travel options, as well as providing general transport and highways related information. The steering group wants the website to work as a discussion forum and information gateway for current users of the travel plan, as well as a way to inform and encourage other businesses in the area to get involved.

So far the travel plan has had good support from some companies but we need the involvement of more companies to turn it into a success. Tracy Noble, the site manager of Kiddi Caru day nursery, got involved in Langage Links at the outset. Kiddi Caru have limited parking space and promote car sharing and bus use to help tackle their parking pressures. This approach was taken after working with Orange, who have introduced a range of measures including supporting bus links and the promotion of car sharing. By listening to how Orange tackled their travel issues, Tracy introduced car sharing into group meetings. As a result, a significant number of staff now share cars for the journey to work. Tracy said: 'I found it really useful to get ideas on how Orange go about their travel planning and found that their ideas also work for smaller employment sites'.

Continued involvement and enthusiasm from all those in the Langage area remains as important as ever for the travel plan to continue meeting and hopefully exceeding its targets. We would encourage all those not already a part of it to visit the website www.langagelinks.co.uk and help make the Langage Travel Plan a success!
Interested in joining Langage links?
For more information please email Michael Ginger at the Highways Agency: Michael.ginger@highways.gsi.gov.uk
Or contact the Plymouth City Council Public Transport Team: publictransport@plymouth.gov.uk