Rhyl childcare centre gets new electric minibus

Rhyl’s Oak Tree Centre has taken delivery of a new electric minibus to support its services for children and families.

Denbighshire County Council’s Fleet Services handed over the nine-seat Toyota ProAce Verso minibus, which has a driving range of more than 200 miles.

It was funded with support from the Welsh Government Energy Service.

The minibus will support the centre’s Little Acorns childcare service and Play Ranger service, and will help with family information support. It brings the number of electric vehicles in the Oak Tree Centre’s fleet to five.

The vehicle forms part of the council’s drive to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut running costs and lower carbon emissions. Since declaring a climate and nature emergency in 2019, Fleet Services has been adding zero-emission vehicles, which now make up more than 20% of its fleet.

Cllr James Elson, lead member for Environment and Transport, said the minibus will help staff ‘maintain their provision of services to children and their families’ while lowering long-term mileage and maintenance costs.

Photo: © County Voice