Lee Evans
Case Study Job: Community Warden
Supervisor Directorate: Health, Environment and Leisure
Job Description: The ground team for the Enforcement Team - issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for dog fouling, littering and bins on streets
Main habit changed: Using the bus as oppose to the car on a regular basis
Description: Lee has opted to use the bus every day after seeing it pass by his home in Foston, and wishing to do his bit for climate change. A single bus journey into Burton from Foston is approximately 30mins long and getting the bus to and from work every day gives a possible 40 journeys a month. Not to mention the journeys undertaken in the working day and at the weekends on the same pass. This bus costs £2.10 for a single fare (returns are no longer available) so that would mean £4.20 per day, however a monthly ticket is available at the price of £35.10. Just 17 journeys undertaken in the month covers this cost and this means that the odd occasion using the car doesn’t impact upon the financial gain.
The bus comes every 35 mins in the day and every hour in the evening dropping Lee off at Horninglow Road. The last bus leaves Burton at 10.50pm making it possible to go out in the evening and have free transport home. He has two kids of 7 and 10 years old, therefore it is not possible to lose the car completely. He uses the car approximately 4 times to work in the month and though he is still paying for tax and insurance makes big savings on fuel. Having said that though, the kids enjoy getting to ride the Double Decker at the weekend!
This lifestyle change has prompted Lee to take forward ideas into his home. Engaging the kids with recycling, composting and vegetable growing, encourages the passing of sustainable ideas to the younger generation. Living in Derbyshire, he doesn’t have the blue recycling bin as provided by ESBC, however he recycles plastic bottles and cardboard at collection points at the weekend. The family are currently growing their own vegetables (which are the Kid’s favourites) comprising of potatoes, carrots, leek and broccoli. Their house also uses energy efficient light bulbs as provided free by many energy companies.
There are a few down sides to using the bus system, such as having to stand on the odd occasion and the bus routes not going directly to required destinations, however on the whole, Lee feels that this is a very good means of travel.
In the future, Lee plans to push for some monthly pool bus tickets to be purchased for the officers that work in the community. Community and Parking wardens currently travel via cars and he feels that this should be changed to using either public transport or bikes. Finally, in the summer, Lee will be getting off the bus a stop one stop earlier, then walking the remainder of the distance. Obtaining valuable exercise and fresh air!
Lee has recently trialled an electric bike for the wardens, this increases their accessibility to residents while cutting down their carbon footprint.
Lee is a good example of a person who has successfully adapted his lifestyle to encompass climate change For any questions please contact us at polar.bear@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk and we will forward them to Lee.