Buses refurbished to cut air pollution and emissions

A bus operator company is to refurbish 15 vehicles in a bid to cut air pollution and curb emissions in Norwich.

The operator First is to refurbish a set of buses as part of an initiative with Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council to cut emissions in Castle Meadow, where a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has been set up.

A spokesman for First told the Norwich Evening News: "We are investing in the refurbishment of a number of our buses. In this particular instance, 15 of our buses will undergo both interior and exterior improvements. No services will be affected as a result of this improvement programme but the result will be a more pleasurable travelling experience for our passengers"

Adrian Ramsay, co-ordinator of the Green part at Norwich City Hall, said: "I welcome any measures that improve air-quality and reduce pollution, it is a real issue in the city, we also need to look at ways of getting more people on the buses, perhaps by reducing prices."

As well as the LEZ, the city and county councils enacted an engine switch off scheme, which sees taxi drivers and busses fined £60 if they do not turn off their motors while they are waiting.