Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is to use newly won government funding to help cut emissions from grey fleet drivers through new eco-training.

The council will target local private and public sector grey fleet drivers with the eco-training

The council has become one of 23 local authorities to score latest funding from the Government’s Air Quality Grant, which supports schemes that help councils develop and implement measures to benefit local communities.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has won £52k funding, which will be used to introduce ECO Stars training to public and private sector grey fleets, in both Barnsley and Doncaster councils, with Barnsley leading the project.

The training will show drivers how to reduce emissions and fuel consumption through measures such as reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration.

Commenting on the funding win, Julia Burrows, director of public health at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “Improving air quality and reducing emissions is extremely important to the council. At the moment, diesel cars make up 44% of all road transport nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the Barnsley urban area. NOx emissions are one of the most significant barriers in meeting air quality standards for the borough.

“This is why we’re pleased to announce that the council has been awarded £52,000 in funding to undertake an eco-driver training project.”

The latest round of funding from the Air Quality Fund has also seen Oxford City Council win £122,500 for a city-wide communications programme to support achievement of zero-emissions delivery freight while the London Borough of Hackney has won £178,950 for the expansion of the Zero Emissions Network to the whole borough.