Town wins e-scooter trial after six-year wait

Beryl said the launch responded to "user demand"

A town has been included in an e-scooter trial scheme after a six-year wait.

Christchurch in Dorset initially received electric bicycles but not scooters under a 2019 agreement covering the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council area.

Provider Beryl previously said Bournemouth and Poole were chosen as good scooter test areas by the council and Department for Transport (DfT) because of their hilly terrain.

E-bikes and e-scooters will be available for instant hire across the council area until 2028.

BCP Council said demand for the vehicles had "far exceeded expectations".

The authority is one of more than 50 areas to have conducted scooter trials to help DfT assess whether to legalise their use on public roads.

Elsewhere in Dorset, Beryl e-scooters are also available in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester.

However, the company's e-bike hire scheme in Wimborne, Colehill, West Parley, West Moors and Ferndown came to an end in February, six months after launch, due to low demand.

Louise Berkhauer, operations manager with Christchurch Business Improvement District, said: "The more visitors that can be encouraged to use these convenient and accessible forms of travelling to our town centre, the better."

Riders can unlock and rent a scooter through the Beryl app and must hold a valid provisional or full UK driving licence, which will be verified before the scooter is hired.