New electric buses launched

Environmental action can also be financially responsible'

Torbay’s new electric bus fleet means the bay is leading the way in the battle against climate change, councillors have heard.

More than 50 new electric buses are taking to the streets after a massive £30million investment by Stagecoach, backed by Torbay Council and further funds from the government.

The buses were officially launched this week, and will take the place of all the company’s older diesel buses in Torbay over the coming weeks. Other bus fleets elsewhere in Devon will also be replaced in the coming years, with Plymouth and Barnstaple among them.

But Torbay is one of only two places in the country to have gone all-electric on the buses, and members of the bay’s overview and scrutiny committee heard that the initiative was a major part of the council’s climate change ‘action plan’.

“It’s Torbay leading the way,” said Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Furzeham with Churston).

During the annual review of the action plan, councillors heard that the bay was on target on all but two of its targets. An energy officer has not yet been recruited and the question of heating for the planned Brixham harbour redevelopment has not yet been answered.

But everywhere else, the council is on target. Projects include de-carbonising Sherwell Valley Primary School in Torquay by installing heat pumps and using solar panels to de-carbonise Tor Hill House.

Council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) said a programme to install LED street lights had begun, and would be completed later this year. It would, he said, deliver around 11 per cent of the council’s overall carbon reduction target and save 230 tonnes of carbon.

“There will also be a substantial financial saving of around £300,000 a year,” he said. “It shows that environmental action can also be financially responsible.”

The new buses, he said, would cut emissions and reduce noise pollution as well as being better for passengers.

Committee members voted unanimously to accept the report, saying good progress was being made to deliver the action plan, but  more work will be needed to work towards the 2030 target for the council to be net-zero and the 2050 target for the whole of the bay to get there.

More buildings including schools will be fitted with solar panels, with heat pumps to replace their ageing boilers.