Cumnock’s transport vehicles are going green, as a community service has received a six-figure sum to invest in electric vehicles.

Coalfield Community Transport (CCT) has been awarded £160,000 from SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund to create a new blueprint for how electric vehicles can be used in rural environments while supporting disadvantaged people in East Ayrshire.

The money has already allowed the CCT to purchase a zero-emissions minibus which will provide accessible, affordable and appropriate community transport solutions for socially and economically disadvantaged people.

Coalfield Community Transport is expected to reduce its carbon footprints with a reduction of 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the next year. They provide accessible and affordable transport in East Ayrshire.

Susan Dever, Project Coordinator at CCT, said: “By replacing high polluting vehicles with a zero emissions minibus, this project will enable us to address the impact our organisation has on the environment by assessing how electric vehicles perform within a rural environment.

“The new electric minibus will allow us to continue to provide accessible and affordable community transport solutions by operating on a service which serves rural villages where congestion can be problematic. Thanks to SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund, we can further strengthen our social purpose of providing improved air quality to the communities we serve.”

Jillian Violaris, Green Economy Manager at SP Energy Networks, said: “SP Energy Networks is completely committed to working with local communities to create a cleaner, greener, healthier Scotland.

“That’s why projects like CCT are at the heart of our Green Economy Fund, which helps communities build their own green economy and establish low carbon infrastructure to support a move to net zero emissions."