OXFORD’S first car club has celebrated its first anniversary having attracted more than 200 motorists.

The Commonwheels Car Club began life in East Oxford a year ago with the aim of cutting the number of vehicles parked on the city’s congested streets.

Just 11 people were signed up to the car sharing scheme when it was launched, but the initiative now has 209 members.

The scheme’s popularity meant the club had to double its fleet of cars from four to eight, as members made more than 1,400 bookings and clocked up more than 53,200 miles.

Commonwheels, the organisers of the scheme, estimate dozens of cars have been taken off the streets as schemes in other parts of the country show an average of 16 owners getting rid of their vehicle for every new car club car.

Director Philip Igoe said Oxford was the most successful of its 11 car clubs with more than double the number of members than similar schemes in Portsmouth and Reading.

Cliff Jordan, of Havelock Road, said he had saved £1,220 since selling his Nissan Primera to join the scheme.

Mr Jordan, 51, who uses the cars to visit friends in Wallingford and Sutton Courtenay and for weekends away, said: “I found I wasn’t using my car very often and quickly realised it would be cheaper to get rid of it rather than pay for another year of tax, insurance and an MoT.

“This is teaching me to be rational and sensible about car use.

“I have access to a car when I need it but not access to a car needlessly when other options are as easy, cheaper and less harmful to the environment.

“My car usage has decreased as I pause and think before getting into a car.”

Members pay a £150 deposit or a £7.50 monthly charge and are then issued with a Smart Card which allows them to book the vehicles.

Drivers are charged £4 per hour to use one of the club’s two new fuel-efficient Volkswagen Polos or £2.50 to drive six ‘adopted’ former residents’ cars, including a Volkswagen Golf running on biodiesel.

The hourly charge includes 10 free miles, after which it costs 25p per mile.

To keep up with demand the club’s organisers estimate they will have to add a further 12 cars in the next six months, including another six in East Oxford and new cars in Iffley and Headington.

Mr Jordan, said: “The car parking congestion is horrendous in various parts of Oxford.

“Car clubs provide a viable alternative to car ownership for a large minority in city areas with good public transport.

“Any new idea suffers from sceptics doubting that it will work and it’s very pleasing to be able to prove them wrong.”

Anyone willing to donate their car to the club can email info@commonwheels.org.uk