Penge Conservatives have welcomed
news that less polluting buses will operate on the 358 and 354 routes towards
the end of this year.
Conservative London Assembly Member
for Bromley, Gareth Bacon, wrote to
Transport for London (TfL) earlier this year to raise concerns about pollution
from existing buses on the 227, 358 and 354 routes. Gareth highlighted that
these routes used older more polluting models and asked transport bosses when
local people could expect to see cleaner vehicles operating on the routes.
TfL have responded saying that the
227 route is already operated by a Euro VI bus and that the 354 would by the
end of the year. TfL also stated that a new contract has been awarded so that
the 358 would be an electric bus route by the end of the year, early next year
at the latest.
Vice-Chairman of Penge
Conservatives, Tom Capon, said:
"Air pollution is one of the
biggest issue facing Londoners and we need to do all we can to clean up
London's air. I thank Gareth for taking this issue up with TfL as we need to
get these older polluting buses off the roads as quickly as
possible".
"The 227, 354 and 358 buses
operate on very congested routes so making these buses cleaner is a strong
first step to cleaning up air quality locally".
Conservative candidate for Mayor of
London Shaun Bailey
has committed to electrification of the entire London bus fleet by the end of
his term if he is elected in May.