Votes open for new name of Somerset's repair and reuse van

Around 80 suggestions were put forward to decide what the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) van will be called.

These have been whittled down to five potential names - and SWP wants your votes.

The customised van, which will be driven by a community repair coordinator, will be travelling around Somerset supporting repair groups and cafes in their work to fix all things electrical.

It will also appear at events, schools and businesses to provide hands-on help, training and promote the repair and reuse of electricals and electronics.

The transit-sized van will provide practical help, useful tools and a PAT testing service – all to encourage people to get things fixed and reused rather than throw them away or recycle them.

In its first year the project and van will be dedicated to repairing electricals and electronics.

If it proves successful, SWP will look to extend the project and broaden in its remit to supporting the repair and reuse of any items.

Votes for the new name (either Norma, Phoenix, Revival, Sparky, Fixy/Fixy McFixFace) can be cast in an online survey until midday on Monday, March 7.

The Somerset project is one of three being funded by this year’s Ecosurety Exploration Fund which supports innovative approaches to reducing the environmental impact of packaging, batteries or electrical items.

It is being led by Resource Futures and also working with Donate-IT, a local Community Interest Company which refurbishes laptops, tablets and phones and distributes them to families who need them.

The van will have a collection point for these items. Donate-IT will securely data wipe donations.

To vote in the survey visit surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NameTheVanVote-SWP2022.