Serena Tierney urges local councils to bid for green buses

Local Lib Dem Serena Tierney yesterday called on councils in West Sussex to bid for money to secure green buses after Lewes MP and Transport Minister Norman Baker announced that the government is making £15 million available for over 150 new low carbon buses to join fleets throughout England.

The funding is intended to put low carbon buses within the reach of as many operators and local authorities as possible throughout England . Bus operators and councils can bid for the money, which they can then use towards the cost of buying low carbon buses.

Low carbon buses use at least 30 per cent less fuel and emit nearly a third less carbon than a conventional bus, yet they currently make up just 0.2% of buses on the road in the UK . It is estimated that the new buses, which form part of the coalition government's plans to introduce a greener transport system, will save around 50,000 tonnes of CO2 over a 15 year period.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Campaigner Serena Tierney commented: "The coalition government is committed to supporting new transport technologies to help make our transport system greener and more sustainable. This investment will stimulate the market for low-carbon buses by reducing some of the initial costs for operators and councils

"I hope that authorities in the local area, such as West Sussex County Council, will make the most of this opportunity and bid for funding.

"Having more green buses in the local area would bring significant benefits, such as reducing the impact of transport on climate change and improving our air quality."