February 13th 2018

Derby City Council has been successful in its bid to receive almost £2.5m of funding from the Governments Clean Bus Technology Fund, which was launched in 2017 and is run by the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU)

The primary aim of the fund is to help local authorities reduce roadside concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), by retrofitting vehicles with technology to reduce tailpipe emissions by up to 90 percent.

Bus Operators were initially invited to support the Council’s bid, and Derby’s three largest operators Arriva, trentbarton and yourbus, all members of the Strategic Bus Partnership, submitted an expression of interest, which will see a combined total of 152 vehicles being retrofitted.

Using accredited suppliers, this will include the use of SCRT technology (Selective Catalytic Reduction & Continuously Regenerating Trap) which will practically irradiate all four main primary pollutants from diesel exhaust gas as well as reducing NO2.

Derby is one of 20 local authorities across the country that will benefit from the £40 million funding boost as part of a government drive to put more low emission buses on the road.

Councillor Asaf Afzal said: “I am delighted that the Council’s bid was successful.  The funding will help us push forward with our plans to tackle harmful emissions, and improve air quality across our streets and communities.  It will also further contribute in encouraging more people to travel sustainably across our city, as part of a range of improvements to public transport, including the extension to the bus station”.

The funding will be allocated over the next 15 months, with £1,500,000 to be given in 2017/18 and £798,300 in 2018/19.