Guernsey Post stepped in with an offer to provide a fleet of vehicles which will be transferring walkers’ bags between checkpoints as they progress around the Walk this coming Saturday.
Volunteers who will be driving support vehicles serving this year’s Round Island Walk received training this week in handling electric vehicles.
Rotarian Paul Watts, who oversees the driving rota, told Channel Eye: “Our volunteers are very excited to broaden their driving experience as they take to the roads for the first time in Guernsey Post’s vehicles drawn from their fleet of electric vans.
“We feel this major development aligns the Walk yet more closely to our objective to minimise the environmental impact of what is in essence a major logistical endeavour as we ship many hundreds of bags to follow their walkers around the 39 mile route. We are particularly grateful to Guernsey Post who have gone to great lengths behind the scenes to make this possible.”
Nigel Dorey, the member of the Walk committee with overall responsibility for delivering the infrastructure behind the walk added: “While the cancellations of last year’s Walk was sad for all concerned, it did provide us with an opportunity to step back and consider many ways in which we could develop and improve our arrangements. We were adamant that our Walk would return ‘bigger and better’ this year and a move to electric vehicles is just one further example of exactly that.”
Guernsey Post have assisted the Saffery Rotary Walk for some years and are very pleased to broaden their support. Dawn Gallienne, Head of Corporate Engagement at Guernsey Post, oversees liaison between them and the Walk organisers.
Dawn explained: “We have enjoyed working with the Walk Team for some years and are pleased that we have identified a further way in which we can support this tremendous community event. Islanders will already know that we are champions of the electrification of commercial vehicles and we are very pleased to publicise its benefits in another arena.”
The main picture shows (left to right), Nigel Dorey, Dawn Gallienne and Paul Watts.
