ANOTHER 179 of West Yorkshire’s buses will be fitted with technology to reduce their emissions and improve local air quality.

This work will be carried out thanks to a successful bid for almost £3 million to the government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

Extending the programme that is already underway, to cover a total of 479 buses, will increase the amount of Nitrogen Oxides removed from 359 to 560 tonnes - the weight of around 37 double deck buses – annually.

As a result of this second successful bid, the scheme will also deliver an additional £13.4 million of health saving and environmental benefits over the five years.

Councillor Kim Groves, Chair of WYCA's Transport Committee said: “I am delighted that in the week that we officially launched the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, which has Cleaner Air as one of its key aims, this additional funding has been announced.

“The reduction in pollution levels and the health benefits of the original scheme covering 300 buses were significant but the funding to include a further 179 buses in the scheme is going to give it a big, and very welcome boost to local people’s health.”

The retrofitted vehicles converted will be those that run into and out of Leeds and Bradford as well as other areas facing air quality improvement targets.

The West Yorkshire Bus Alliance brings together the Combined Authority and bus operators Arriva, First and Transdev with a focus on 'Cleaner Air, Customer Care and Connectivity'.