MORE than 200 new vehicles will be acquired by Barnsley Council in the next three years as part of a £17.7m replacement programme.
Projections revealed in the fleet management programme show the need to take delivery of 78 in 2026/27, 149 in 2027/28 and nine in 2028/29.
A report said: “All newly-procured vehicles will fully comply with the latest Euro emissions standards, thereby delivering significant environmental and operational benefits.
“Adherence to these standards substantially reduces harmful pollutants including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate
matter which contributes to improved air quality and enhanced public health, particularly within urban areas.
“In addition, modern vehicles typically offer superior fuel efficiency, lowering operational fuel costs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
“These improvements directly support the council’s commitment to mitigating climate change and advancing broader sustainability objectives.
“As part of this process, we have also looked at alternate fuel options.
“HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) being the preferred due to the substantial reduction in C02 emissions.
“The current commercial price of HVO is currently more expensive than diesel and relies on the availability of source materials.
“There is also some risk of HVO damaging more sensitive fuel system
components such as injectors and fuel pumps due to its reduced lubricity compared to traditional diesel.
“The market will be monitored and if it becomes financially and operationally attractive to make the change to HVO fuel we’ll look to do so.
“Procuring new fleet assets will allow the council to continue to deliver essential and statutory services in a safe and efficient way without higher maintenance or hire costs.”
Councillor James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, added: “We know how important our frontline services are to people across Barnsley, from bin collections to looking after our roads and our green spaces.
“Making sure our teams have reliable, modern vehicles is a really simple but vital part of delivering those services well.
“This programme is a sensible, long‑term investment that helps us keep costs down, cut emissions and reduce the risk of service disruption.
“By planning ahead now, we’re making sure Barnsley is prepared for the future, with a cleaner, greener and more efficient fleet that supports the day‑to‑day services our residents rely on.”
