Thameslink helps West Herts NHS nurses win new wheels

(More pictures can be downloaded in high resolution below)

St Albans City Hospital nurse Jane O’Connor is the first proud winner of a bicycle restored and donated by a partnership between rail operator Thameslink, St Albans City & District Council and St Albans Cycle Campaign (STACC). Jane received her bike at a presentation attended by St Albans MP Daisy Cooper.

Thameslink has donated six bikes abandoned and unclaimed at railway stations across its network. With advice from STACC, the council commissioned cycle repair specialists Cycle Tech Hertfordshire to restore the bikes to safe, roadworthy condition. All the renovation work has been funded by STACC.

The council arranged with West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust to organise a prize draw for the bikes among its staff. Jane is the first winner, and further draws will pick five colleagues.

Jane said: “I’m looking forward to cycling to work. Cycling has so many benefits, including mental, physical health and wellbeing. It also has environmental benefits, plus there is the pleasure of riding a bike.”

The project follows a successful scheme run by Thameslink and Luton Council that renovated abandoned bikes for NHS hospital key workers in Bedfordshire.

Tom Moran, Managing Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “It’s fantastic working with our partners to support Hertfordshire hospital staff at this challenging time. As key workers ourselves, we’re proud to be supporting NHS staff in the communities we serve.

“At a time of great national challenge, we are proud to help keep Britain moving safely and healthily, and we hope this will encourage more people in the area to cycle.”

Councillor Chris White, Leader of St Albans City and District Council and Portfolio Holder for Climate, Environment and Transport, said: “This is an excellent initiative that I am pleased the Council is involved with along with our partners. It is very much in keeping with our priorities of encouraging people to use green transport to reduce harmful emissions and to take exercise. It’s also a marvellous way for us to thank local NHS staff for all they have done to protect our community from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Rona Wightman, Secretary of STACC, said: “We were delighted to be approached by St Albans District Council for help with this project. Our committee had been planning to make a donation to support the NHS during the pandemic when this ideal opportunity arose. Contributing our local knowledge and financial support to such a practical project to enable local health workers to get cycling is a brilliant extra to our wider campaigning effort.”

MP Daisy Cooper said: “This is a brilliant initiative for local NHS heroes to get them to and from work safely on two wheels.”

The council is going to explore other funding options for refurbishing even more bikes for NHS workers across the district.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Thameslink collects a steady stream of bikes abandoned at stations, many in surprisingly good condition, and normally sells those that are unclaimed and too good to scrap at periodic auctions, with proceeds going to local charities, but restrictions because of Covid-19 have prevented the auctions so far this year.

St Albans Cycle Campaign (STACC) is campaigning for people cycling in St Albans and the surrounding area:

• To encourage cycle usage
• To promote cycling to play a more significant role in a balanced transport system
• To support, assist and influence local authorities responsible for managing the transport system in the St Albans District.

Its approach is to work co-operatively with key bodies such as the local authorities whilst lobbying for better funding and provision for cyclists, with particularregard to cycle paths & routes, lower speed limits & cycle-parking.

For more information go to www.stacc.org.uk