PLANS for an M62 car-sharing lane trial have been welcomed by a pioneering Colne Valley company.
Ourcaryourcar is a car share project where people can pay an annual membership to share a pool car.
Members can then hire a car when they need one.
Project co-ordinator Hazel Bonner is delighted the Government is addressing the problem of congestion on the roads and is hoping the proposed trial of car-share lanes on the M62 gets the green light.
She said: "It is great news that the Government is trying to get more people to share cars and get more people off the roads - that is exactly what we have been doing for 15-months.
"We have 31 members now, many of whom have got rid of their car altogether since they joined Ourcaryourcar.
"Our members have said they find only using a car when they really need to has saved them money and it is good for the environment and reduces traffic problems in the area."
The proposed M62 car-sharing lane is an attempt to fast track commuters through rush hour traffic to Leeds if they are sharing a car.
The lane would run from junction 25 in Brighouse to 27 in Leeds and drivers who used it while travelling alone could face fines of up to £100.
Mrs Bonner said the lanes should also be open to the project's cars even if drivers were alone.
"We have four cars shared by 31 people so we would have to ask the authorities to let us use the lane however many people were in the car.
"I think the lanes will work and it would be great to see them implemented on other roads. The ring road and major routes around the town centre could be other areas car-sharing lanes might be successful."
Ourcaryourcar, managed by the community rail group the Penistone Line Partnership, is based in Slaithwaite and hoping to expand. It costs £90 annually plus a one-off joining fee of £25 to become a member.
