By Andy Hirst

In the ‘good old days’ businesses used to deliver their goods around Holmfirth by bike.

Well, those days are back as the valley now has an e-cargo bike which businesses can use to save the cost – both environmentally and financially – of delivering by car or van.

Green-minded non-profit group Environmental Projects in Kirklees (EPIKS) has invested in an e-cargo bike and they want businesses and community groups in the Holmfirth area to use it for free to discover there is another way to deliver to customers.

EPIKS project officer Kim Warren said: “The e-cargo bike will be available for businesses and community groups to trial for free in a wide variety of ways. By using it they will be spreading the message about the versatility of the bike and how it can replace cars and vans on journeys where goods of all kinds can be transported.

“This is better for the environment and does not lead to congestion, pollution and damage to our roads. By the autumn the team will have completed market research to see how home deliveries can boost business and become a viable enterprise with paid riders.”

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The hope is that more people will buy from Holme Valley businesses to cut down on the amount of items being delivered by big businesses on our roads.

Kim added: “It does not make sense either environmentally or economically speaking for us to be bringing goods into the valley from further afield – we just lose money to big corporations and cause pollution and congestion on our roads.

“Not only does the bike have a huge 80kg capacity, but it really turns heads and raises a smile wherever it goes. The e-cargo bike will mark the start of a long-term project to use low-emission vehicles to deliver goods and services throughout the Holme Valley.

EPIKS did some market research before buying the bike, hosting an e-cargo bike roadshow to demonstrate how e-cargo bikes are an eye-catching, clean, viable alternative to goods vehicles. More than 100 individuals, businesses and community groups gave their support to the scheme.

EPIKS have recruited a team of enthusiastic volunteers to ride the bike and spread the word about the project.

The project’s fundraising target is £22,000 and they are already halfway there. People can support it through a Spacehive crowdfunding project (https://www.spacehive.com/holmedeliveries).

The scheme has received £6,000 from Holme Valley Parish Council’s Climate Emergency Fund and £2,500 from the Bright Green Community Trust Fund managed by the One Community Foundation in Kirklees (https://www.one-community.org.uk/looking-for-funding/bright-green-community-trust.php)

If you’re a local business and you’re interested in trialling out the e-cargo bike, contact Kim Warren at EPIKS via email at kim@epiks.org.uk

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EPIKs is the working title for Environment Kirklees Ltd, a not-for-profit company based in Huddersfield and operating projects throughout Kirklees.

Their team includes a combination of volunteer directors and paid part time staff. Through projects they work with residents, community groups, institutions, businesses and employees to increase environmental awareness and practical environmental solutions.

* Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging and copywriting. Copyright Andy Hirst.