North Wales Metro invests in Flintshire electric bus services

Cllr Carolyn Thomas, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside and Deputy Leader of Flintshire Council

Cllr Carolyn Thomas, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside and Deputy Leader of Flintshire Council

The Welsh Government’s is investing £450,000 to provide electric buses and charging infrastructure for two routes in North Wales.

Flintshire Council is providing £358,000 for the vehicles, which is being match funded by the Welsh Government via the North Wales metro fund.

The money will fund two electric bus vehicles that will serve routes to Buckley and Treuddyn, as well as the charging infrastructure to maintain them.

The routes form part of Flintshire’s plan to link rural routes to main hubs in the county.

The vehicles will be housed at the council’s facility in Buckley, which includes a solar farm allowing the buses to be charged using a locally generated renewable energy source.

The new vehicles will be larger, to accommodate growing demand, and which will also allow social distancing should that be required.

Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates said: “This North Wales metro development shows our commitment to invest in greener transport and is part of our drive to build back better following the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Flintshire County Council said the project would initially benefit the communities in the east of the county.

Cllr Carolyn Thomas, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “The funding will provide some welcome support to the council’s aspirations to reduce its carbon footprint and will help provide a sustainable public transport service in both rural and urban areas of the county.

“The purchase of the two electric bus vehicles, along with the development of a key sustainable energy hub, symbolises the start of a very exciting opportunity for the council which will greatly contribute to the council’s vision for a zero carbon future.’’