Council begins electric vehicle switch

Torridge District Council has brought in three electric vehicles to bolster its fleet

Torridge District Council has added three electric vehicles to its fleet to replace diesel vans.

Two of the vehicles will be used by its estates team for routine maintenance tasks and to help with the running of the pannier markets.

The third van will be used by the Northam Burrows rangers to be used at volunteering events and while they are managing the natural landscape of the country park.

Councillor Peter Hames, Torridge District Council's lead member for climate change, said: "We will be actively looking to replace further diesel vehicles with electric, as and where appropriate, when they come up for review."

He added: "It was an easy decision to invest in electric vehicles.

"Not only are there long-term cost savings, but this will contribute to our on-going efforts to be carbon neutral by 2030."

The vehicles are to be based at Riverbank House in Bideford, where electricity generated from the solar panels on the roof office building will be used to recharge the vans' batteries.