Drivers are being urged to give up their vehicles and join a car-sharing club in a notoriously traffic-clogged area of Brighton.

The Hanover Car Club in Brighton will operate in one of the most densely populated parts of the South-East.

Transport experts Smart Moves is conducting a survey on behalf of Hanover Community Association and Brighton and Hove City Council.

Smart Moves already runs car clubs in Edinburgh, Bristol and parts of London.

Activists in the Hanover area of Brighton have been trying to get the scheme off the ground for almost four years.

If they get a favourable response to their latest survey, the first club cars could be available by the summer.

Members of the club would have access to new cars within five or ten minutes' walk of their homes.

Cars, running on liquid petroleum gas as well as on conventional fuel, will be available to book by phone or through the internet.

Typical costs would be a one-off joining fee of £25 and a membership fee of £10 per month.

Cars would be available for hire by the hour.

Benefits to members would be saving several thousand pounds a year and hassle-free motoring with servicing, insurance and maintenance included in their fees.

Drop-in sessions for people to find out more are being held at Hanover Community Centre in Southover Street on Thursday, March 20 between 4pm and 7pm and on Saturday, March 22 between 10am and 3pm.

Wednesday March 12 2003