New vans have been delivered to Somerset West and Taunton Council as part of its bid to reduce their carbon emissions. 

The council's new van fleet features new electric and next generation diesel engine vehicles, which will replace some of the current fleet due for retirement. 

The council's Executive Member for Environmental Services, Cllr Andrew Sully said: "We are focused on actions to meet our climate emergency declaration and the decarbonisation of our corporate fleet reflects this.  

"Where possible we have selected an electric vehicle solution and for operations where this isn’t possible yet, we have opted for the latest generation of lower emission diesel technology.”

Comprising the new fleet are three Vauxhall Combo-e's, a Skoda Karoq, three Ford Rangers, six Ford Transit Tippers, two Kubota mowers, four Vauxhall Combo-e's and an Isuzu N75 Arborist Tipper. 

Somerset West and Taunton Council have announced their ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030, following the declaration of a 'climate emergency' by the local authority in 2019. 

As part of this plan SWTC has begun to roll out electric vehicle charging stations across its car parks. The project was boosted by a £136,000 grant from the government to assist with the installation of the charge points. Soon the council's new Combo Electric vans might be seen making use of them. 

The new fleet arrives following a deal with Specialist Fleet Services struck in 2021. The Northampton based fleet management firm provides a range of vehicle hire and management servives, as well as running its own network of workshops across the UK. 

Bob Sweetland, Managing Director of SFS said: “We are pleased to be working with Somerset West and Taunton Council to help achieve its carbon reduction targets. 

This is the just the first step in creating a more sustainable fleet for the future and we look forward to continuing working together to enhance the new combined council’s vehicle provision.”