Derby City Council to make zero-emission buses funding bid

Councillor Carmel Swan said zero-emission buses "can make a significant contribution to meeting our climate goals"

Plans have been drawn up to replace a city's diesel buses with new zero-emission vehicles.

Derby City Council said it would bid for government funding to finance the move as part of plans to cut pollution.

Operators Trentbarton and Arriva have been working with the authority to acquire electric and hydrogen buses.

The council said it wanted the new vehicles to be used on key routes in the city and services to towns across Derbyshire.

It said an as-yet-undisclosed amount of funding was being sought from the Department for Transport's (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme.

Trentbarton said it wanted to deploy hydrogen-powered buses on services between Derby, Belper, Ripley and Bakewell and on its Skylink routes between Derby and Nottingham and East Midlands Airport.

Arriva said it wanted to run new electric vehicles on routes to Alvaston and Sinfin in Derby.

Both firms said they would develop refuelling facilities at their depots in the city if the bid was successful.

Council cabinet member Carmel Swan said good air quality was "hugely important to everyone and the council recognises that zero-emission buses can make a significant contribution to meeting our climate goals".

"We must also cut air pollution, reduce noise and provide more frequent, reliable bus services," she added.