THE first electric bus depot in the south west has been unveiled in Somerset.

The depot, in Weston-Super-Mare, has been transformed thanks to a £14.9 million investment from First Bus and the Government’s Zero Emissions Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) project, via North Somerset Council.

The size of two football pitches, it will house 24 new electric buses which will transport around 20,000 passengers per week on two key services in North Somerset; the X1 (Weston to Bristol) and X4 (Portishead to Bristol).

Each bus saves around 75 tonnes of CO2 each year – the equivalent to taking 54 cars off the road, as First Bus aims to have a zero emission fleet by 2035.

The depot, just off the A370 on the edge of Weston, boasts three huge gantries, installed by Magnus Construction Group, which will power the area’s 24 new electric buses – more than a third of First Bus’ Weston bus fleet.

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Doug Claringbold, managing director for First Bus in the West of England, said: “Today is a major milestone in bringing smoother, quieter and more reliable bus journeys to our customers, and making sustainable transport even better for the environment, supporting our commitment to have a zero-emission fleet by 2035.

“Seeing our depot and buses unveiled today has been a really proud moment for me and our teams in Weston-super-Mare and across First Bus, who have worked so hard with contractors and our local authority partners to secure this project and bring it to the West of England.

“This is our biggest investment in the local area for decades, and what we have created here in Weston will help secure a cleaner solution for transport for future generations and help inspire the nation to love and use the bus.”

Alongside officially launching the new depot and vehicles, North Somerset Council has also announced a further boost to the environment.

Today, it unveiled plans to revamp up to 130 bus shelters on key routes including stops with ‘living roofs’, solar panels and benches made from thousands of recycled CDs as part of its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

And in the coming weeks, First Bus and North Somerset Council will launch a new educational programme, which will see an electric bus visit local schools, giving pupils the chance to explore the new buses, be taught the key skills on how to catch and travel on a bus, and learn more about travelling sustainably.

The youngsters will also have the opportunity to adopt and design local bus shelters, and create a new, modern, futuristic design for the new Wallace and Gromit character Norbot as part of First Bus’ partnership with the Grand Appeal.

Cllr Hannah Young, executive member for highways and transport at the council, which secured government funding for the project, said: “This is a landmark moment for North Somerset and a huge step forward in our journey towards a greener future. Investing in zero-emission buses and improving our transport infrastructure will not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve the experience for passengers.

“A key part of this scheme is inspiring the next generation to choose to use the bus as a convenient, reliable, and sustainable way to travel.

“By engaging children through school visits and creative initiatives, we are working to build long-term habits that help to reduce congestion, improve air quality and support our communities to retain local services. By working in partnership with First Bus, we are proud to be leading the way in the West of England to bring this environment-friendly investment to North Somerset.”

Elsewhere, First Bus and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority will soon unveil its first electrified Bristol depot at Hengrove, which will power 74 buses entering the Bristol network this summer.