The company is to replace the fleet of vans that undertake regular deliveries from its Wimbledon base into London's Theatreland with an efficient, low fuel consumption, and very friendly horse and cart. "This transportation system has been used by the local Young's Brewery for many years," notes White Light's managing director, Bryan Raven.
"When we learnt that they were to phase it out we realised what a great opportunity this was for us. Our many theatre and corporate event clients mean that we have to make regular deliveries into central London, and rising fuel costs make this increasingly expensive.
"The horses, on the other hand, will pay for themselves - they are exempt from the congestion charge, and we can sell the manure they generate to local gardeners, covering their feeding costs. We are fortunate to have the City Farm around the corner from us, which will be their new home. Given the traffic levels in London, we do not anticipate that deliveries will take significantly longer than now."
White Light's new delivery vehicles will be up and running soon, once signwriting and driver training, both due to take place on the morning of 1 April, are complete.
With more than three decades of experience, White Light does not stretch back quite to the horse and cart era, though it has supplied and supported many generations of lighting technology. Full details of the products and services (and transport) the company really offers can be found at www.WhiteLight.Ltd.uk.
(Lee Baldock)