SOUTHAMPTON-BASED national mapping agency Ordnance Survey has adopted a car-share scheme to encourage its staff to travel to work in a greener, more responsible way.

Ordnance Survey employs more than 1,200 people at its Romsey Road head office and about two-thirds live within a five-mile radius. The car share scheme provides a way in which staff can find colleagues to share journeys to work and have a guaranteed parking space when they arrive.

As befits Britain's map-makers, staff click on an intranet map to see the full head office catchment area. They then click on a symbol nearest to their home address to view contact details of others willing to car-share.

Since the scheme was set up in January, 93 people have registered as willing to car-share and there are 65 car shares in operation, saving that number of parking spaces.

"Encouraging staff to change the way they come to work can save them time and money and reduce stress," says Ordnance Survey's environmental co-ordinator Gary Tull.

"This not only benefits the individual, but the business will also be in a better mood and more productive.

"Reducing the number of unnecessary cars coming to the site will alleviate traffic congestion, so those who really have to drive can do so with fewer problems. This will also reduce pollution from car fumes, which can impact on health and environment."