A drive to make buses greener is being backed by the Regional Assembly.

The Department of Transport has launched a £30 million fund to encourage the purchase of low carbon buses.

The East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) today welcomed the move. Councillor Jim Harker, chairman of EMRA’s housing, planning and transport joint board, said: “If more people use buses instead of cars, that should reduce congestion – and if those buses are greener, that will cut pollution too.”

Low carbon buses use at least 30 per cent less fuel and emit nearly a third less carbon than an equivalent conventional bus.

At present, low carbon buses make up just 0.2 per cent of buses on the road today .The Government’s fund is intended to put low carbon buses within the reach of as many operators and local authorities as possible throughout England.

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