Electric vehicles are to replace Swindon Borough Council's petrol and diesel fleet.

The authority has just bought another four electric vans to begin the process.

It still has 321 vehicles running on fossil fuel, but it is planning to buy 30 new electric vans in the next financial year the budget is approved.

Cabinet member for transport and the environment Maureen Penny said: “We are absolutely committed to tackling climate change as a council and our recent solar farm projects through PPS highlight how we are putting that into practice.

“This latest initiative to replace our petrol and diesel vehicles with electric alternatives is another great example of how we are reducing our carbon footprint.

“It also ties in very nicely with our recent planning policy which will require developers to install electric vehicle charging points in all new homes over the coming years, while a similar policy will also see a required number of charging points in new retail and employment developments.

She said: “We want to do all we can to create a clean, green environment for Swindon, by reducing harmful greenhouse gases locally while at the same time improving air quality.”

The four new Renault Kangoo ZE 33 vans will be used by the council’s housing repairs team and the authority says they will save more than £1,700 a year per van in fuel costs, maintenance and excise duty.

And they will reduce carbon emissions by 448,000 grams per vehicle every year.

The vehicles will be charged in the council’s Waterside Park depot workshop overnight, but will also use two fast charging points at the civic offices in Euclid Street and two at the Wat Tyler House offices.

Installed last year the points can also be used by members of the public.

Electric vehicles are a theme for the borough - both in its own work and the policies it sets for the town.

The mayor’s car has been a hybrid car for the last three years. The current car is a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid.

Under the local plan, which is currently being revised, the council has proposed new standards for parking and charging provision.

Outside the central zone where parking spaces are not mandatory, every new home must come with off-road parking, and must have a wall-mounted car charging point built in.

New shopping centres will be required to provide charging points in 10 per cent of parking spaces, with the option for extending this to a further 10 per cent.

And employment developments have to put in a minimum of two electric vehicle spaces or 20 per cent, whichever is higher.