New vehicles to help keep our lovely town “Clean and Green”

LAST week, two new electric vehicles joined the fleet which helps our town stay “Clean and Green”. They will support the council’s goal of achieving net zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030.

The new vehicles are Toyota Proace City vans. One will be used by the Parks and Gardens ground maintenance team and the other will be used by the team which keeps our public toilets clean. Neither van will emit any CO2.

Meanwhile, Cheltenham Borough Council, through its environmental services partner Ubico, is also reducing CO2 emissions by operating its “Clean and Green” vehicle fleet better.

Since May this year, when new technology was introduced to help its Heavy Goods Vehicles to be driven more efficiently, it has been estimated that teams have reduced CO2 emissions by some 9,455 tonnes.

This is the equivalent of 156 young trees capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide as they grow over a period of 10 years.

Cheltenham Borough Council will continue to work in partnership with Ubico to support CO2 reduction both in the way its fleet is powered and also the way it is operated.

As examples of the former, our council is aiming towards replacing all vehicles under 3.5 tonnes with electric equivalents as they become due for renewal, and is exploring alternative fuels for its HGVS.

On the latter, new “in cab” digital technology will not only lead to greater fuel efficiency but also an improved service to Cheltenham’s residents.

As the Borough Council cabinet member responsible for Waste & Recycling, Parks & Gardens, and Public Toilets (“Clean and Green”), I am really proud of what is being done in partnership with Ubico and its staff on delivering our promise to reduce carbon emissions towards our declared goal of net zero by 2030.