LEADING Local Agenda 21 authority, Winsford-based Vale Royal Borough Council, has taken a step towards meeting its aim of reducing pollution and conserving resources for future generations.

All of the authority's diesel engined vehicles, including the refuse collection fleet, are to be run on 'green' or 'city' diesel.

The use of this type of fuel will result in a reduction in harmful atmospheric emissions and in the long term will also make substantial financial savings for the council.

By using the special fuel it will allow catalytic converters on all diesel engines which will further reduce atmospheric emissions. The use of standard diesel does not allow this option.

Currently the prices of standard and green diesel are similar but this is expected to alter in the future with the cleaner fuel becoming cheaper in comparison.

In addition there is a reduction of £500 in vehicle excise duty available for commercial vehicles which fulfil the necessary criteria for cleaner exhaust emissions.

As part of its corporate commitment to Local Agenda 21 the council is determined to put its own house in order with schemes such as using the special diesel, energy conservation, recycling of used paper, aluminium cans and composting.

Fuelling Vale Royal Borough Council's green campaign are, left to right: Steve Towers, building contracts manager; John England, transport manager; Clr Dr Janet Mather, chair of the direct services sub-committee; Steve Brane, contracts manager of LWS, and Clr Brian Jamieson, chairman of the environmental and technical committee. Photo supplied.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.