Million more ‘green’ bus trips in £7m plan

ONE million greener bus journeys a year will take place after ministers announced £7million to fund anti-pollution technology.

Hundreds of vehicles will be fitted with devices to cut harmful nitrogen oxide emissions in areas of high pollution, reducing toxins by 90 per cent according to government research.

Fifty London buses will “go green”, while Bristol and Brighton will both have 35 vehicles fitted with the technology.

Other areas, including Leeds, York, Sunderland and Norfolk, will receive government funding to convert their buses in eighteen pollution hotspots.

Andrew Jones, the transport minister, said: “Greener buses mean cleaner town and city centres and a healthier environment for everyone.

“The upgraded buses that will soon hit the roads in England continue our commitment to better air quality by investing in greener transport.

“By targeting pollution hotspots and backing the low-emission technology of the future, we are making the right long-term decisions to improve people’s lives,” he said.

The new round of funding takes the total spent by ministers on upgrading buses to £27 million since 2011.

Councils have been awarded up to £500,000 to refit old vehicles under the scheme, which aims to reduce air pollution in urban areas.

Last summer a court ruled the government must urgently cut emissions after repeatedly missing EU air quality targets.

Ministers vowed to make changes to bring the UK in line with rules set by Europe amid warnings that some parts of the country would not meet targets until 2030.

Nitrogen oxides are estimated to be responsible for thousands of deaths in the UK every year.