Brolly good idea to cut travel costs

office staff are to be loaned umbrellas to encourage them to walk in the rain rather than take the car.

It is one of a raft of environmentally friendly ideas from Western Isles Council to help cut its £1.127 million travel expenses by 5 per cent. A communal pool of manual and electric bikes to get employees to pedal to work and persuading personnel of the benefits of electric cars have also been proposed.

Going on foot is the most sustainable mode of transport of all. The council said: “If employees wish to walk to work or between locations in town or walk at lunchtime, the possibility of a change of weather may discourage any walking.

“It is therefore proposed to have a box of umbrellas in specific locations which staff can borrow and return after their journey.”

Staff are also being urged to take the bus to meetings, get on their bike or grab a lift from a colleague.