£11 million to be invested into low emission buses

Local authorities and bus companies have been awarded a share of £11 million under the government’s ‘Low emission bus scheme’ to help buy 153 cleaner buses.

The areas which are set to benefit from the funds include Bristol, York, Brighton, Surrey, Denbighshire and Wiltshire.

The successful bidders of the funds include Denbighshire County Council in Wales, where £500,000 will be invested for four electric buses to be used on services in mid-Denbighshire.

The City of York Council is set to receive £3.3 million for 24 electric buses on park and ride services; South Gloucestershire Council will benefit from £4.8 million for 110 gas buses; and Surrey County Council will get £1.5 million for nine electric buses.

In addition, The Big Lemon firm will get £500,000 for three electric buses to be used in the Brighton area and Go South Coast/ Wiltshire County Council will get £500,000 for three electric buses to be used on park and ride services around Salisbury.

The government’s support for low emission buses is one part of a £600 million package of measures from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by 2020, plus £270 million announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement to support the roll out of low emission cars, taxis and buses and supporting infrastructure.

Later this year, the government will also publish plans for a second round of the ‘Low emission bus scheme’ with a view to putting even more of the cleanest buses on our streets.