Knowsley Council has revealed its “quick wins” approach to reducing staff travel emissions.
According to a report produced ahead of a meeting of Knowsley Council’s climate emergency committee next week, staff travel makes up 2% of the council’s overall emissions, with council vehicles accounting for 12% of emissions.
Knowsley Council states that there are three key strategies for tackling its vehicle related emissions – developing an electric and alternative fuel strategy; an ongoing feasibility study into possibilities at the council’s Stretton Way depot and the development of a staff and travel plan.
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In terms of the staff and travel plan, the council is looking for “quick-wins” according to the report. This mainly involves promoting active travel, public transport and car sharing options already existing for council employees.
For the more complex approaches, such as electric bike or car pooling options, this is something that could warrant further investigation, according to the report, but would be dependent on the availability of resources or funding.
On the more pressing issue of the council’s own vehicle emissions, an electric vehicle and alternative fuels strategy is currently in development and will be brought to the committee next year.
The future of the council’s main depot at Stretton Way is also a key issue, with a feasibility study ongoing into options available at the ageing site.
The council have a 500-strong fleet of its own vehicles, which is made up gritters, sweepers, waste collection vehicles, tippers, minibuses and smaller vans.
75% of the fleet has been replaced in recent years with more modern and environmentally friendly models, according to the report.
However, plans to replace the fleet with electric or alternative fuel vehicles are still the subject of ongoing review although concerns are raised over the price and effectiveness of such items in the commercial market.
The report states that electric powered waste collection vehicles would cost twice as much as the current vehicles in place, with hydrogen ones costing substantially more again.
In the case of tippers, there are no suitable electronic equivalents, and problems exist around access to charging facilities for low carbon gritters.
The report concludes by saying that the emerging strategy around electric or alternative fuel vehicles will “drive the agenda forward” for the council’s future actions to reduce its carbon emissions as the council moves towards its net zero target.
Members of the borough’s climate emergency committee will meet at Huyton municipal buildings next Thursday evening to further discuss the report.
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