A £10 MILLION funding gap is facing North Ayrshire Council as it aims to make its vehicle fleet ‘net zero’ – but a top official at the authority insists it’s on course to meet its goal.

Almost 170 vehicles will need replaced vehicles within the next decade if the authority is to meet its target.

David Hammond, NAC’s head of service for sustainability, transport and corporate property, told a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Tuesday: “There are 560 vehicles and road-registered vans. About 400 or two-thirds of them have readily low carbon alternatives.

“The remaining 170 vehicles, including road gritters and bin lorries. Alternatives are not readily available or in the early stages of deployment.

“Of the 400 vehicles switched, around 10 per cent of those to alternatives  already with national grant funding.

“To support electrification of that part of the fleet, we have deployed around 30 dedicated workplace charges in buildings across the area.

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