Fewer Southwark Council staff drive to work since move to Tooley Street

The council says that just seven per cent of its staff are single occupancy drivers using a motor vehicle to get to work. Prior to the consolidation of civic offices at Tooley Street three years ago, more than a quarter of staff used cars for their daily commute.

Nearly half of respondents to a staff travel survey, 46 per cent, said they use National Rail train services to get to work. This was followed by 14 per cent who travel on the tube and 13 per cent who take the bus.

The council says that, despite budget cuts, it continues to offer staff season ticket loans, a business unit Oyster card, a cycling allowance and free cycle training as well as investing in showers and lockers for cyclists.

The survey also revealed that currently 10 per cent of respondents cycle for the longest part of their journey to and from their place of work with 5 per cent currently walking.

"I very much welcome the outcome of this survey, which shows that if employers enable options for sustainable travel, staff will respond," says Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling.

"We intend to continue to encourage staff across the council to support sustainable transport by cutting car use and utilising the well-served transport network available to them."

"We are also committed to lobbying Transport for London to ensure that the roads and routes that they are responsible for are as safe as possible for all vulnerable road users."

The reduction in car use may also owe something to the location of the Tooley Street offices in the congestion charge zone and the lack of parking for council officers' cars.